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WORKS  by  Galen  B.  Royer 

The  following  BIOGRAPHICAL  series  of  BI- 
BLE MEN,  written  in  simple  story  form,  were 
prepared  for  young  people  ten  to  fifteen  years 
old,  but  have  proved  themselves  very  fascinating 
and  helpful  to  older  people  as  well.  The  series  is 
printed  on  fine  enamel  paper,  size  3^x6i4,  bound 
in  cloth,  two  colored  designs  on  the  cover,  and 
is  nicely  adapted  for  presents  to  young  people. 

JOSEPH  THE  RULER,  published  in  1900,  136 
pages,  7  illustrations  (also  published  in 
Danish  language  by  Karen  Jorgenson,  Sin- 
dal,    Denmark) $0.30 

DANIEL     THE    FEARLESS,    published   in    1901, 

149  pages,   4  illustrations .30 

SAMUEL    THE   JUDGE,   published  in  1901,    136 

pages,    5    illustrations,    .30 

DAVID     THE    KING,    published    in    1901,     152 

pages,    7    illustrations,    30 

MOSES    THE   LEADER,    published   in   1901,    154 

pages,    7   illustrations 30 

JESUS    THE    SAVIOR,    Volume    I,    published   in 

1902,   151  pages,   7   illustrations 30 

JESUS   THE   SAVIOR,   Volume   II,   published  in 

1902,  183   pages,  9  illustrations 30 

RUTH    THE     TRUE-HEARTED,     published    in 

1903,  160  pages,   7   illustrations 30 

JOHN    THE    BAPTIST,    published    in    1904,    212 

pages,    10    illustrations 30 

ESTHER   THE   QUEEN,   published   In   1904,    176 

pages,    5    illustrations 30 

ELIJAH    THE    PROPHET,    published    in    1905, 

237  pages,  5  illustrations 30 

ABRAHAM  THE  FAITHFUL,  published  in  1907, 

181  pages,  7  illustrations 30 

ANY  THREE  COPIES  8S  CENTS 


By  D.  L.  Miller  and  Galen  B.  Royer 

SOME  WHO  LED,  published  in  1912,  containing 
63  sltetches  of  men  and  women,  leaders  in 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  45  sketches 
are  accompanied  by  plioto-engravures  of 
the  subjects.     223  pages,  5%   x  8, $1.00 

Any  of  the  above  works  sent  postpaid,  upon  re- 
ceipt of  price  by 

BRETHREN   PUBLISHING   HOUSE 
Elgin,  Illinois 


^ 


Bisliop   I>.   Ii.   Miller,    President. 

After  Twentv-nine  Years  of  Service  on  the  General   Mission 
Board  of  tlie  Cliurcli  of  the  Brethren. 


Of  Q3t0Hto«0 


GALEN  B.  ROYER 

For  twenty-three  years,  Secretary  of  the  General 

Mission  Board  of  the  Church 

of  the  Brethren 


Second  Edition 


1914 
Brethren  Publishing  House 
Elgin,  111. 


Copyrighted  in  1913 
By  Mrs.  Galen  B.  Royer 


A  BtbU  U^aitttg 


The  harvest  truly  Is  plenteous,  but  the  laborers  are  few. 

Matt.   9:   37. 

John  4:  35  Behold,    I    say    unto    you,    Lift   up    your 

eyes,   and  look  on   the  fields;   for  they  are 

Matt.  9:  38  white   already   to   harvest. — Pray   ye   there- 

fore the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  will 
send    forth    laborers    into    his    harvest. 

Mark  16:  15  16  -^^^  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Go  ye  into 
all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every    creature.      He    that    believeth    and    is 

■Rom     10*    13  baptized  shall   be   saved. — Whosoever   shall 

call   upon   the   name   of   the   Lord   shall   be 

Rom.  10:  13-15  saved.  How  then  shall  they  call  on  him  in 
whom  they  have  not  believed?  And  how 
shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they 
have  not  heard?  And  how  shall  they  hear 
without  a  preacher?  And  how  shall  they 
preach,   except  they  be  sent? 

_  9.   1ft  Behold,  I  bring-  you  good  tiding-s  of  great 

Luke  Z:   10  .^y^   which   shall   be   to   all  people. — Incline 

Isa    55*  3  your  ear,  and  come  unto  me:  hear  and  your 

soul  shall  live. 

Who  are  these  that  fly  as  a  cloud,  and  as 

Isa.  60:  8  the  doves  to  their  windows? — They  come  to 

T         net'  A  thee:    thy    sons    shall    come    from    far,    and 

Isa.  60:  4  ^j^y  daughters  shall  be  nursed  at  thy  side. 

Luke    13*   29  — -^^^  ^^^^  shall  come  from   the   east,   and 

from   the   west,    and    from    the   north,    and 
from   the  south,   and   shall   sit  down  in   the 

Psa.   72:   11  kingdom   of   God. — All    nations    shall    serve 

him. 

Gal    6*  9  -^^^  *^*  "^  ^°^  ^^  weary  in  well  doing: 

*     '  for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap  if  we  faint 

not. 


StttroDuctiott 

History  is  the  story  of  the  events  of  the  past,  so 
arranged  as  to  give  the  reader  a  correct  knowledge 
of  the  growth  and  development,  as  well  as  the  retro- 
gression of  the  human  race.  The  historian  may 
have  a  strong  imagination,  resulting,  without  inten- 
tion of  being  untruthful,  in  so  coloring  events  and 
giving  them  an  imaginative  setting,  as  to  mislead 
the  reader.  The  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth  should  be,  within  human  limitations, 
the  motto  of  the  historian.  French  and  English 
writers  have  produced,  by  the  score,  biographies  of 
Napoleon  Bonaparte  so  colored  by  the  national  prej- 
udice and  bias  of  the  authors  as  to  make  their  pro- 
ductions little  better  than  fiction.  Our  own  histo- 
rian, Abbott,  wrote  also,  and  produced  an  example 
of  hero  worship,  showing  what  word  painting  can 
do  in  the  field  of  history.  It  remained  for  an  Amer- 
ican author,  at  the  beginning  of  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury, to  give  to  the  world  an  authoritative  biography 
of  the  great  Bonaparte.  The  real  historian  gives 
verified  facts,  so  far  as  obtainable,  not  neglecting 
the  field  of  well-established  tradition,  arranges  them 
in  accord  with  the  time  of  their  happening,  criticises 
them  carefully,  to  ascertain  their  value,  and  inter- 
prets them  in  accordance  with  these  processes,  us- 
ing the  deductive  method  sparingly  and  cautiously. 

5 


Introduction 

Owing  to  the  errancy  of  human  effort  at  best,  his- 
tory can  not  be  called  an  exact  science. 

The  author  of  this  work  has  followed  the  course 
of  action  laid  down  in  the  foregoing-  paragraph  and 
has  made  a  conscientious  effort  to  give,  without  un- 
due coloring,  the  progress  and  development  of  the 
history  of  missionary  effort  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  during  the  period  of  its  greatest  activity. 
A  careful  reading  will  reveal  the  fact  that  particular 
attention  has  been  paid  to  a  careful  verification  of 
the  events  set  down.  Nothing  has  been  taken  for 
granted  that  could  be  proved  by  the  records  of  the 
past  or  by  the  verified  memories  of  the  living,  who 
took  active,  and  to  some  extent,  a  prominent  part  in 
the  development  of  the  missionary  activities  of  the 
church. 

The  progress  of  missionary  effort  in  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  for  the  last  sixty  years,  is  a  subject 
full  of  deep  and  absorbing  interest  to  all  who  are  in- 
terested in  this  most  important  branch  of  the 
Church's  activity.  For  the  last  half  of  these  years 
the  growth  of  missionary  sentiment  and  the  devel- 
opment of  missions  in  the  church  has  been  phenom- 
enal, and  here  the  student,  of  this  phase  of  church 
life,  finds  a  subject  well  worth  his  careful  attention. 
It  may  be  said  that  the  non-missionary  church  has 
the  sentence  of  death  written  over  against  its  name. 
If  not  already  dead,  it  is  dying.  It  can  not  be  en- 
titled to  the  name  of  a  church  of  Jesus  Christ,  for 
his  work,  all  the  way  through,  was  the  work  of  a 
missionary.  The  Church  of  the  Brethren,  by  her 
activities  and  growth  in  this  important  line  of  work, 

6 


Introduction 

has  shown  her  right  to  the  title  of  a  live  church,  in- 
tensely interested  in  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  of  Je- 
sus Christ  into  all  the  world. 

To  one  who  lived  through  the  period  of  the 
church's  greatest  activity  and  development  of  mis- 
sionary effort,  and  who,  in  an  humble  way,  took 
some  part  in  forwarding  the  great  cause  of  missions, 
the  interest  in  this  volume  may  be  more  intense  than 
to  others,  not  closely  and  personally  interested  in 
the  missionary  movements  of  the  church.  While 
this  is  true,  the  book  is  sure  to  interest  every  ear- 
nest Christian  man  and  woman  who  has  at  heart  the 
evangelization  of  the  world.  The  reading  and  care- 
ful study  of  what  is  here  given  can  not  fail  to  in- 
spire, in  the  hearts  of  all  who  read,  a  deeper  and 
more  abiding  interest  in  sending  the  Gospel  of  Je- 
sus Christ  to  all  the  peoples  of  the  earth. 

The  strongest  impression  made  on  the  mind  of 
the  writer,  in  reading  the  manuscript  of  this  book, 
was  and  is,  how  wonderfully  God  has  blessed  the 
church  in  her  missionary  efforts.  And  this  will  be 
the  better  appreciated  by  the  contrast.  A  backward 
look  takes  us  to  a  grassy  slope  under  the  shade  of 
an  apple  tree  in  the  yard  of  Brother  Moses  Miller, 
near  Dayton,  Ohio,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the 
Tabernacle  where  the  Conference  of  1884  was  held. 
It  was  a  beautiful  June  day  and  here  the  newly-ap- 
pointed General  Mission  Board  met  and  organized 
for  business.  A  few  days  later,  June  13,  1884,  the 
first  business  meeting  was  held  at  Mt.  Morris,  Illi- 
nois. Then  the  treasurer  reported  $8.69  on  hand, 
not  enough  to  even  think  of  beginning  work.    Con- 

7 


Introduction 

trast  this  with  the  money  and  assets  of  the  Gen- 
eral Mission  Board  in  this  year  of  grace,  1913.  We 
now  have  annual  receipts,  aggregating  about  $100,- 
000,  with  assets,  including  endowment,  the  Gish 
Fund,  and  the  Publishing  Department,  of  nearly 
$1,000,000.  Then  we  had  but  a  single  missionary  in 
foreign  lands, — Brother  Hope  in  Scandinavia, — now, 
including  the  outgoing  missionaries  for  1913,  we 
have  in  India  thirty-eight  missionaries,  in  China, 
eighteen,  and  five  in  Scandinavia.  Noting  the  con- 
trast here  drawn,  surely  one  is  led  to  rejoice  with 
an  exceeding  great  joy  and  to  exclaim,  in  the  full- 
ness of  the  heart,  "  Behold  what  God  hath  wrought 
among  his  people." 

The  fitness  of  the  author,  for  the  task  he  has  so 
well  performed,  is  undoubted.  For  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  has  been  a  trusted  official  and  indefati- 
gable worker  for  the  General  Mission  Board ;  for 
more  than  a  score  of  years  he  has  had  charge  of  the 
details  of  the  office  work  of  the  Board;  for  years 
he  edited  the  Missionary  Visitor.  He  has  made  a 
careful  and  thorough  study  of  the  problems  of  mis- 
sions, and  has  given  the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the 
missionary  activities  of  the  church.  No  one  has 
come  in  closer  touch  with  all  the  details  of  the  work 
of  the  Board,  or  has  had  rarer  opportunities  to  fit 
himself  for  a  work  of  this  kind.  He  had  had  access 
to  all  the  sources  of  information, — minutes,  records 
and  reports  were  all  open  to  him, — and  because  of 
these  opportunities  he  had  in  mind  and  grasp  the 
place  to  find  the  notable  events  and  happenings  in 
detail,  necessary  to  write  a  history  and  set  in  order 

8 


Introduction 

those  things  that  have  come  upon  the  stage  of  ac- 
tion in  the  development  of  missions  in  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren. 

The  amount  of  labor  and  careful  research,  neces- 
sary in  the  collection  of  the  facts,  collating  and  giv- 
ing them  their  proper  setting  and  systematic  ar- 
rangement, has  been  great.  It  has  taken  years  of 
preparation  for  the  completion  of  the  work.  The 
author  did  not  depend  upon  his  own  memory  or  on 
that  of  others,  but  sought  out  the  records  of  the  past 
for  the  necessary  proofs  to  establish  fully  the  sug- 
gestions of  memory.  And  to  one  who,  like  the  writ- 
er, had  the  opportunity  to  read  the  book,  chapter  by 
chapter,  as  it  was  written,  it  was  a  surprise  to  note 
how  often  the  memory  and  the  records  failed  to  agree 
in  some  details.  In  every  instance  the  record  was 
taken,  and  memory,  defective  as  it  is  at  best,  had  to 
give  place  to  positive  proof  from  authenticated  ar- 
chives of  the  past.  It  has  been  the  constant  and 
conscientious  effort  of  the  writer  of  the  book  to  give 
only  reliable  information,  and  to  set  forth  the  facts 
properly  analyzed,  systematically  arranged  and 
placed  in  the  order  of  their  occurrence.  This  he  has 
done  in  a  clear  and  forcible  manner,  so  that  his  writ- 
ing will  be  easily  understood. 

The  book  contains  a  storehouse  of  facts  and  infor- 
mation, concerning  the  growth  and  development 
of  missionary  sentiment  in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  It  was  well  that  the  gathering  of  these 
facts,  that  go  to  make  up  history,  was  undertaken 
while  a  number  of  the  actors  in  the  work  are  still 
among  the  living.    It  adds  greatly  to  the  value  of  the 

9 


Introduction 

book,  especially  that  part  devoted  to  biographical 
sketches,  that  the  subjects  of  the  sketches,  or  some 
near  relative,  had  opportunity  to  verify  what  was 
written.  The  work  will  be  of  incalculable  benefit 
to  the  future  historian  of  the  church,  and  it  may  be 
said,  without  giving  undue  importance  to  the  book, 
that  it  is  among  the  most  valuable  contributions  to 
our  church  literature.  It  is  a  mass  of  facts,  and 
bristles  with  information  on  every  page ;  and  these 
are  set  forth  in  a  style  that  will  hold  the  attention 
of  the  reader  from  first  to  last. 

"  Thirty-three  Years  of  Missions  "  will  find  a  wel- 
come in  the  home  of  every  member  of  the  church 
who'  has  at  heart  the  great  work  of  sending  out  the 
Light  of  the  Gospel  of  our  Blessed  Master.  It  will 
be  read  with  intense  interest  and  it  will  do  good  in 
the  cultivation  of  missionary  sentiment  among  those 
of  our  people  who  have  not  carefully  looked  into 
this  important  work  of  the  church.  We  bespeak  for 
it  a  careful  reading  and  an  honored  place  in  the 
home  of  every  family  in  the  Brotherhood.  May  the 
blessings  of  God  attend  it  upon  its  mission  and  make 
it  a  power  for  good  to  humanity ! 

D.  L.  MILLER. 

Mt.  Morris,  Illinois, 
July  2,  ipis. 


10 


15^  Wn^  of  Ciplanatiott 

For  almost  five  years  I  have  had  it  in  mind  to 
write  this  history.  It  was  always  my  intention  to 
do  it  while  some  of  the  principals,  who  were  active 
through  its  making,  were  living.  But  some,  like  D. 
Vaniman  and  Enoch  Eby,  are  not  here  to  pass  upon 
it.  It  is,  however,  a  matter  of  special  thanksgiving 
that  D.  L.  Miller,  who  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  since  1884,  when  the  present  plan  was  inau- 
gurated, is  living,  to  go  over  its  pages. 

The  book  is  prepared  to  tell  the  story  of  the  de- 
velopment of  missions  in  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren. I  have  tried  to  save,  from  the  rapidly-fading 
past,  facts  that  soon  would  be  out  of  reach,  even 
though  some  should  seek  eagerly  for  them,  and  in 
so  doing  the  volume  has  grown  in  size  far  beyond 
my  planning. 

This  will  account  for  some  of  the  lengthy  reports 
given  in  toto.  To  the  uninterested,  these  reports, 
being  printed  in  smaller  type,  may  be  readily  omit- 
ted without  breaking  the  thread  of  history. 

The  biographical  sketches,  it  is  hoped,  will  be 
helpful.  To  know  the  younger  missionaries,  who 
have  not  wrought  in  their  chosen  fields,  may  not 
mean  so  much,  and  yet  to  know  them  is  helpful. 
But  to  know  the  lives  of  the  older  missionaries,  and 
members  of  the  General  Mission  Board,  who  have 
wrought  faithfully  for  God,  is  an  inspiration  to  every 

11 


By  Way  of  Explanation 

one  who  reads.  "  Biography  is  history  teaching  by 
example."*  And  behind  every  great  movement  are 
great  hearts,  some  greater  than  others,  it  is  true,  but 
unitedly  winning  the  victory,  and  to  know  these  indi- 
viduals is  to  get  at  the  real  heart  of  the  movement. 

The  photo-engravings  of  the  workers  are  ar- 
ranged, as  near  as  could  be  done,  on  the  basis  of 
order  of  entering  service, — first,  the  members  of 
the  General  Mission  Board,  then  those  of  the  Book 
and  Tract  Work,  then  the  missionaries. 

I  have  no  apology  to  offer  for  the  one  biography 
of  unusual  length, — a  very  short  sketch  of  the  very 
eventful  and  useful  life  of  D.  L.  INIiller.  Others  have 
come  and  gone  on  the  General  Mission  Board  since 
1884.  Their  lives  were  filled  with  usefulness  while 
on  the  Board.  But  Brother  IMiller  began  with  the 
Board  in  the  beginning,  as  its  Secretary-Treasurer, 
and  is  living  today  to  serve  as  its  honored  President. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  missions,  and  if  anything, 
the  sketch  is  not  full  enough  to  do  his  career  justice. 

I  have  avoided  titles.  In  doing  this  I  have  made 
no  mistake  in  giving  the  wrong  title,  or  omitting  it 
when  it  should  be  given.  It  has  not  been  done  for 
lack  of  respect  for  official  position,  but  rather  to 
leave  the  impression  that  we  are  all  one  in  this 
great  work. 

I  have  applied,  with  a  few  exceptions  throughout  the 
text,  to  all  stages  of  the  development  of  missions  the 
last  name  of  the  Board, — namely  "General  Mission 
Board."  To  one  who  wishes  to  make  reconciliation, 
let  me  say  that  the  work  accomplished  from  1880 


*Dr.  M.  G.  Brumbaugh  in  Preface  to  "  Some  Who  Led." 

12 


By  Way  of  Explanation 

to  1884  was  done  under  the  name  "  Foreign  and  Do- 
mestic Missionary  Board;"  that  from  1884  to  1893 
under  the  name  "  General  Church  Erection  and 
Missionary  Committee  of  the  German  Baptist  Breth- 
ren Church."  In  1893,  through  consolidation  with 
the  "  Book  and  Tract  Work,"  the  name  assumed 
was  "General  Missionary  and  Tract  Committee  of  the 
German  Baptist  Brethren  Church."  In  1908,  when  the 
Annual  Conference  changed  the  name  of  the  Broth- 
erhood from  "  German  Baptist  Brethren  Church  " 
to  "  Church  of  the  Brethren,"  the  name  of  the  Board 
was  changed  from  "  General  Missionary  and  Tract 
Committee  "  to  "  General  Mission  Board,"  so  that 
the  name,  since  that  date,  has  been  "  General  Mis- 
sion Board  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren." 

It  has  been  my  unusual  privilege  to  have  had  free 
access  to  all  records  of  the  General  Mission  Board 
and  I  have  sought  to  represent  them  faithfully  in 
their  true  setting.  In  addition  to  this,  every  biogra- 
phy, save  three,  has  been  approved,  as  far  as  cor- 
rectness of  statements  is  concerned,  by  the  individ- 
ual himself,  or  some  near  relative.  To  all  these  I 
owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  their  kindness  in  helping. 
But  most  of  all  I  am  indebted  to  "  Father  Miller  " 
who  has  read  the  manuscript  from  the  standpoint 
of  its  correctness  of  statement ;  to  S.  Bock,  Secretary 
of  the  "  Book  and  Tract  Work  "  for  reading  and 
approving  of  Chapter  VI ;  and  to  L.  A.  Plate,  whose 
fitness  through  long  ser\dce  enabled  him  to  correct 
the  manuscript  in  many  ways. 

If  the  book  will  preserve  some  records  that  other- 
wise, in  a  few  years,  would  be  entirely  lost  to  the 

13 


3y  Way  of  Explanation 

church ;  if  here  and  there  the  reading  of  the  volume 
will  quicken  a  greater  interest  for  missions ;  if  in 
some  Christian  Workers'  Society  or  Missionary 
Meeting,  or  like  assembly,  it  will  supply  some  in- 
formation to  some  speaker  to  make  his  address  more 
effectual;  if  it  will  give  "just  what  I  wanted  in  a 
part  of  my  missionary  sermon "  to  one  or  more 
ministers  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  it  will  have 
done  just  what  I  had  in  mind  in  its  preparation. 
God  bless  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  God  bless 
the  missionary  movement  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  of  which  this  is  a  very  imperfect  history. 


GALEN  B.  ROYER. 


Elgin,  Illinois, 

June  so,  19 IS. 


14 


Cable  of  Content0 


I.  The  Dawn  of  missionary  Activity  in  the  Chnreh  of  the 
Brethren 

A  Home  Missionary  Church — Gaining:  a  Foothold — Emigra- 
tion— Not  Wholly  by  Emigration — Why  No  Financial  Bur- 
den— Extensive  Occupation — Some  Worthy  Fathers — An 
Appeal  for  Home  Work — Urging  Foreign  Work — A  World- 
wide Plea — The  Right  Source — Pleading  for  China — Op- 
position— This   Opposition   Strange — The   Spirit's  Work,   21 

n.  The  Orowth  of  Missionary  Sentiment  as  Beflected  in  the 
Seliherations  of  Annual  Conference 

Slow  Progress — Little  Favoring  Missions — "A  Dead  Letter  " 
— A  Plan  Suggested — Disappointment — The  Real  Situation 
— Favorable  Action  Asked  For — A  Splendid  Committee — 
The  Report — Small  Attendance — A  Writer's  Opinion — An- 
other Plan  Offered — Silence — 1860  Report  Adopted  in  1868 
— Continued   Failure — A   Charitable   View,    33 

XU.  The  New  Element  of  Foreign  Missions  in  Developing: 
Missionary   Interest 

Early  Life  of  C.  Hope — Conviction — Tracts  and  Persecution — 
Sundry  Changes — A  Clew — Baptized — The  Opening  Wedge 
— Danish  Tract  Fund — A  Call  from  Denmark — Si>ecial  Dis- 
trict Meeting — Two  Chosen — The  Way  Prepared — First 
Converts — In  Prison — Eby  and  Fry  Arrive — First  Impres- 
sions— The  Church  at  Hjorring — Ordination  Again — Return 
to  America — Brotherhood  Divided — Help  Rejected — Sym- 
pathy and  Support — Splendid  Work — Sad  Neglect — Appor- 
tionment— The  First  Apportionment — A  Danish  Church 
Paper — Summary 47 

IV.  The  Stmg-g'le  Iieadlngr  tTp  to  the  Effectiial  Plan  of  1884 

The  Ogans  Creek  Plan — Brethren's  Work  of  Evangelism — 
Struggle  to  1884 — Growing  Feeling — Reflects  Sentiment — 
The  Old  Path — Not  Approved — Protect  the  Petition — A 
New  Plan — Danish  Mission  Transferred — The  Committee — 
A  Working  Decision — Individual  Views — Ready  for  Mis- 
sions— On  the  Church — Commission  Same  Stress  Now — 
Put  Missions  in  Laity's  Care — Splendid  Growth — Much 
Said;  Little  Done — Tells  How  Divided — Board's  Position 
Appreciated — Dormant  System  Worthless — Report  of  First 
Board  Meeting — Not  in  Full  Harmony — Borrow  from  a 
Stranger — Dark  Picture — Strong  Pleading — Title  to  Prop- 
erty— Paid  Ministry  Feared — Grieved  and  Humiliated — Re- 
port of  Mission  Board  1882 — The  Pangs  of  Division — Who 
Knows? — Divided  Today — Longing  for  Reunion,   63 

▼.  The  First  Decade  of  Orgranlzed  Missionary  Effort 

Time  for  Earnest  Labor — Meetinghouse  Fund  Asked  For — Pro- 
ceed Cautiously — Plan  for  General  Church  Work — A  Con- 
stitution for  Missions — How  to  Raise  the  Means — The  First 

15 


Table  of  Contents 

Missionary  Committee — Covering  Four  Tears — Organiza- 
tion— Urges  State  Districts — Calls  Disposed  Of — Work  Re- 
ported— Call  for  Workers — First  Annual  Report — Locate 
Ministers — ^Wiiy  Preserved — Increased  Receipts — First  Pub- 
lic Missionary  Meeting — City  Missions  Cared  For — Endow- 
ment— Sundry  Queries — Report  for  1887 — Incorporation — 
Loans  on  Meetinghouses — Review  of  Last  Four  Years — 
Growth  in  1889 — Canada  Assigned — Africa  Thought  Of — 
Securing  Missionaries — Guarded  Missions — Traveling  Sec- 
retaries— India  Considered — Visiting  Mission  Fields — Mis- 
sionary Magazine — Discontinued  and  Revived — The  Dol- 
lar Basis — Its  Usefulness — Summary — The  Foreign  Work 
During  This  Period — Hope  Coming  to  America — Limhamn 
House — Difficult  Problems — Back  to  Europe — Summary,   91 

VI.  Tract  Distribution  as  a  Separate  Endeavor 

Bombshells — Teaching  Not  Guarded — Sound  Tracts  Used — A 
Tract  Association — Board  of  Directors — A  Plan  Com- 
menced— Some  Idea  of  Activity — The  Plan  of  1885 — The 
Committees — ^An  Address  to  Members — Result  of  Public- 
ity— Decided  Activity — Pamphlets — Tracts — Tract  Distrib- 
uters— Bound  Volume  of  Tracts — Summary  for  Nine  Years 
— Tract  Examining  Work — Only  Doctrinal  Tracts^ — A  Great 
Change — Tracts  in  1894 — Consolidation  Desired,   119 

VXI.  Nineteen  Years  of  Missions  in  India 

A  New  Field  Perplexing — Board  Not  Hasty — First  Congrega- 
tion Offering  Support — First  Applicant — Mother  Congrega- 
tion— Did  Not  Go — Others  Accepted — Deferred — Pressure 
— Blessed  Experiences — New  to  Standing  Committee — Pre- 
ferring Another — First  Missionaries — Deep  Concern — Sail- 
ing— First  Report — Difficult  Problems — Reinforcements — 
Twenty-four  Accessions  —  Mingling  of  Castes  —  Awful 
Famine — Some  Famine  Results — First  Furlough — Famine 
Gifts — A  Touching  Meeting — Blessed  Beginnings — District 
Mission  Board — Building  for  Girls — Vital  Items  Decided 
Upon — Orphanage  United  —  Erecting  Bungalows  —  First 
Great  Sadness — India  Mission  Board — First  Missionary  to 
Die — Development — Educational — •Medical —  Industrial  — 
Sunday-school — Evangelistic — Especially    Situated,    ....139 

VXn.  Missions  and  Tract  Distribution  TTnder  One  Orgfanization 

Certain  Standards  Required — Experience  Not  Required — 
Progress  Retarded — What  Is  Required — A  Consecration 
Prayer — A  Program — But  One  Speaker — Tract  Distribu- 
tion— Larger  Demand — More  Tracts  Sought — Special  Re- 
vision— Loss  by  Emigration  —  Colonization  Approved  — 
Problem  Not  Solved — Endured  Prison — Help  on  Meeting- 
houses— Loans  Only  on  Easy  Terms — The  Chicago  Mission 
Started — Washington,  D.  C,  Mission — How  Missions  Begin 
— Disappointment — Reconsideration — Providing  a  Meeting- 
house— Resignation — Lot  Purchased — Building  Committee 
— In  Care  of  Eastern  Maryland — Parsonage  Built — Impor- 
tant Place — A  Great  Need — ^Unique  Book — S.  W.  Hoover's 
Death — City  Mission  Plan — Asia  Minor  Mission — Earliest 
Record — The     Beginning — Brethren's     Home  —  Orphanage 

16 


Table  of  Contents 

"Well  Supported — Attracted  Attention — Persecution — Deep 
Sympathy — Full  Written  Report — Other  Workers — ^WitTiout 
a  Missionary — Continuance  Not  Justified — Neglected  Mis- 
sions— Memorial  to  Kings — Some  Urged  Missions — A  Defi- 
nite Proposition — Studying  Conditions — Another  Appeal — 
Preparation — A  Mission  Opened — Industrial  Mission — Mis- 
sion Work  in  Brooklyn,  New  York — The  Beginning — First 
Sunday-school — The  First  Communion — Aggressive  Steps 
— Greatest  Need — The  Italian  Mission — J.  Kurtz  Miller  as 
Pastor — Securing  a  Lot — Buildings  Completed — Growth — 
Spiritual  Oversight — The  Publishing  Department — How  It 
Came  About — The  Amount  Raised — The  Subscription — 
Provision  Made — Publication  Department  of  the  General 
Mission  Board  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren — Special 
Notice — A  Valuable  Gift — Little  Change  Made — New  Loca- 
tion— Beginning  in  Elgin — Growth — A  New  Paper — Man- 
agement— A  Good  Record — Field  Workers — Job  Work — Mu- 
sic Editor — Missionary  Messengers — Messenger  Editors — 
— Contrast — Just  Begun — Annual  Missionary  Offerings — 
Rural  Districts — ^Disabled  Missionari'es — Ministerial  and 
Missionary  Relief  Fund — Gish  Publishing  Fund — Executed 
Her  Own  Will — Board  Took  Charge — Much  Good  Done — 
Switzerland  and  France — iWhy  Switzerland — Place  of  Wor- 
ship Needed — Number  of  Items — A  Church  for  Sale — 
Hand  Book — Reading  Circle — Total  Endowment — Denmark 
and  Sweden — Strengthened — Vanimans  In  Sweden — Many 
Visitors — Falling  Health — New  Workers — Great  Reasons 
— Library  Presented — iLibrary  Vault — Appreciation — Mis- 
sion Money  for  Missions  Only — System  Approved — Agita- 
tion for  China — No  Great  Interest — First  Workers  Selected 
— Sailing  to  China — Prospecting — Sickness  and  Return — 
Throes  of  Rebellion — Llao  Chou — Sickness  and  Death — Or- 
phanage— Not  Without  Fruits — Hardly  Begun — Call  for 
$100,000 — Worker  for  Cuba — An  Industrial  School— Jeru- 
salem— Help    to    Prepare    Workers — Formal    Suggestions 

South  America — Appleman  as  Secretary — Laymen  May  Go 
— Educational — Closer  Union  Between  Boards — Missions 
by  District  Mission  Boards, 169 

XZ.  Biographical 

(See  Special  Index  on  Pages   18-20.) 
Appendix 

A,  Members  of  the  Book  and  Tract  Work  and  Their  Terms  of 
Service — B,  Conference  Offerings  Through  the  Years — C, 
Members  of  the  Tract  Examining  Committee  and  Their 
Terms  of  Service — D,  List  of  Pamphlets  and  Tracts  for 
1913 — E,  Assistance  in  Building  Meetinghouses  from  the 
Beginning — P,  Gish  Publishing  Committee  and  Their  Terms 
of  Service — O,  Total  Annual  Receipts  of  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board — H,  Members  of  the  General  Mission  Board  and 
Their  Terms  of  Service— I,  Missionaries  Appointed  by  Con- 
ference. Year  by  Year,  Whether  They  Went  to  the  Field  or 
Not. 


17 


IBiogtapijical  SnDe^c 


Photo  Sketch 

Opposite  on 

Folio  Folio 

Arnold,    S.    Ira 416  273 

Arnold,    Mrs.    S.    Ira,    nee    Elizabeth    Bartho- 

low,     416  274 

Barnhart,  Abram    B.,    272  275 

Barnhart,   William   W 288  277 

Berkebile,   Steven    P 336  278 

Berkebile,  Mrs.  S.  P.,  nee  Nora  E.  Flory,  ...336  279 

Blough,  Anna  V.,    400  280 

Blough,  Jacob  M.,   320  281 

Blough,  Mrs.  J.  M.,  nee  Anna  Detweiler,   ...320  283 

Bock,    Samuel,    272  284 

Bonsack,  Charles  D 272  286 

Bosserman,    Samuel    T.,    240  288 

Bright,    J.    Homer 368  289 

Bright,  Mrs.  J.  Homer,  nee  Minnie  Flory,  ...368  290 

Brubaker,  Charles  H 336  291 

Brubaker,  Mrs.   Ella  M.,  nee  Ella  Miller,    ...336  293 

Brubaker,  Daniel   E.,    240  293 

Brubaker,   Ora    G.,    M.    D 400  295 

Brubaker,  Mrs.  Ora  G.,  nee  Cora  Cripe,   400  296 

Buckingham,   Ida,    416  297 

Cottrell,  A.   Raymond,   M.   D.,    416  298 

Cottrell,  Mrs.  A.  Raymond,  M.  D.,  nee  Laura 

M.  Murphy, 416  300 

Cripe,   Winnie, 368  301 

Crumpacker,   Franklin   H., 352  302 

Crumpacker,    Mrs.     Franklin    H.,     nee    Anna  . 

Newland 352  303 

Early,  Henry  C,    272  305 

Ebey,  Adam,    304  307 

Ebey,  Mrs.  Adam,  nee  Alice  King 304  308 

Eby,   Anna,    384  309 

Eby,   Enoch 240  310 

Eby,  Enoch  H.,    352  312 

Eby,  Mrs.  Enoch  H.,  nee  Emma  Horner,   .  .  .352  313 

Emmert,  Jesse   B.,    320  314 

Emmert,   Mrs.   Jesse    B.,    nee    Gertrude    Row- 
land,      320  316 

Fercken,    Gaston   J.,    304  317 

Fercken,  Mrs.  Gaston  J.,   304  319 

18 


Biographical  Index 

Filbrun,  David  S 288  319 

Forney,  Daniel   L 304  320 

Forney,  Mrs.   Daniel   L.,   nee   Anna   ShuU,    ..304  322 

Frantz,  Isaac,    256  323 

Gish,  James  R 224  324 

Graybill,  Jacob   F.,    384  326 

Graybill,  Mrs.  Jacob  F.,  nee  Alice  Hoffer,  ...384  327 

Hawbaker,  Charles  H.,   256  327 

Heckman,  B.  Franklin,    368  328 

Heckman,  Mrs.  Minna  M.,  nee  Minna  Mote,  368  330 

Heisey,    Herman    B.,    400  331 

Heisey,  Mrs.  Herman  B.,  nee  Grace  Nedrow,  400  332 

Hepner,  Jacob  A.,   256  333 

Hilton,   George   W. 352  333 

Hilton,  Mrs.  George  W.,  nee  Blanche  Cover,  352  335 

Himmelsbaugh,  Ida,   352  336 

Holsopple,  Quincy  A 384  337 

Holsopple,    Mrs.    Quincy    A.,     nee     Kathren 

Royer,    384  338 

Hoover,  Samuel  W 256  339 

Hope,    Christian 48  47 

Horning,    Emma,     352  340 

Hutchison,  Anna  M.,   368  341 

Kaylor,  John  I.,    384  342 

Kaylor,   Mrs.  John   I.,  nee   Rosa   Bella   Wag- 
oner,  384  344 

Lahman  Clarence  W.,    256  345 

Leedy,  Joseph,    240  346 

Lichty,  Daniel  J 320  348 

Lichty,  Mrs.  Daniel  J.,  nee  Nora  Arnold,  ..  ..320  349 

Long,   Isaac   S.,    336  351 

Long,  Mrs.  Isaac  S.,  nee  Effie  Showalter,   ...336  352 

McCann,,  Samuel   N.,    304  353 

McCann,     Mrs.     Samuel     N.,    nee    Elizabeth 

Gibbel,    304  356 

Metzger,  Minerva,   368  357 

Miller,  Benjamin   Franklin,    None  359 

Miller,   Daniel   L. Frontispiece  359 

Miller,  Eliza  B 304  366 

Miller,  Jacob   L.,    256  368 

Miller,  Sadie  J.,    320  368 

Minnich,  Adam,    288  369 

Mohler,    Paul 368  371 

Mohler,    Mrs.    Paul,    nee    Lucy    F.    Leather- 
man,    368  372 

Pittenger,    John    M.,     336  373 

Pittenger,  Mrs.  John  M.,  nee  Florence  Baker,  336  374 

Plate,  Lewis  A.,  256  375 

19 


Biographical  Index 

Powell,  Josephine,  352  377 

Price,  John  W None  378 

Quinter,  James,    240  379 

Quinter,   Mary   N 320  382 

Riddlesberger,   Samuel,    240  383 

Ross,  Amos  W.,  336  384 

Ross,  Mrs.  Amos  W.,  nee  Flora  Nickey,  ....336  385 

Rowland,  Collin  P 240  386 

Royer,    B.    Mary,    400  387 

Royer,  Galen   B 416  389 

Royer,   Samuel   D.,    288  391 

Sanger,  Samuel  F.,   256  392 

Shirk,  Mrs.  Harvey  F.,  nee  Bertha  Ryan,   ..288  394 

Shumaker,  Ida  C 368  395 

Stover,  Wilbur   B.,    288  397 

Stover,  Mrs.  Wilbur  B 288  399 

Teeter,  Lewis  W.,  272  400 

Vaniman,  Albert  W. 288  403 

Vaniman,  Mrs.  Alice  Moore,    288  404 

Vaniman,  Daniel 240  405 

Vaniman,  Ernest,  400  407 

Vaniman,    Mrs.    Ernest,    nee    Susie    Cordelia 

Neher,    400  409 

Wampler,  Frederick  J.,  M.  D. 400  409 

Wampler,  Mrs.  Frederick  J.,  nee   Rebecca  C. 

Skeggs 400  411 

Widdowson,  S.   Olive,    384  412 

Williams,  J.  Henry  B., 272  413 

Wine,  Alonzo  F 416  414 

Wine,  Mrs.  Alonzo  F.,  nee  Attie  Cline 416  415 

Winger,  Otho,  272  416 

Yereman,   O.   H.,  M.   D.,    320  418 

Yoder,  Joseph   J 272  419 

Young,    Emanuel    S.,    240  421 

Ziegler,  Kathryn,   352  423 

Zuck,  John 272  424 

Zug,  Samuel  R 256  426 


20 


I. 

CJje  Daton  of  q^fggionarp  ZttMtp  in  tfie 
Cj)Utc[)  of  tbt  IBtttbtm 

IN  a  very  effectual  way  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren has  always  been  a  home  missionary  church. 
It  is  true  that,  in  leaving  Europe  for  America, 
they  sought  a  haven  of  rest  from  religious  persecu- 
tion ;  but  when  this  was  found  in  the  forests  and 
valleys  of  the  New  World,  they  did  not  forsake 
their  religion  or  forget  their  neighbors.  Few  of  the 
Brethren  resided  in  the  city;  hence 
A  Home  ^jjg  social  life,  as  well  as  the  opportu- 

Ch^^  h  nities    for    the    larger    reach    of    the 

world's  condition,  were  not  pressed 
upon  them.  It  was  a  time  of  little  communication 
by  mail,  and  few  knew  anything  beyond  the  bounds 
of  their  own  communities.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
urgent  calls  for  the  Word  at  their  very  doors, — 
many  of  which  had  to  go  unanswered  because  of  in- 
ability to  go, — ^gave  the  church  little  disposition 
to  seek  farther  to  serve  the  Lord.  Not  the  steam- 
boat,— or  rather  the  slow-going  sailboat  to  a  dis- 
tant strand, — but  the  horse  and  saddle,  and  often 
the  journey  afoot,  to  more  remote  parts  of  the  com- 
munity or  State,  or  to  a  sister  State,  were  a  common 
effort  among  the  Brethren. 

21 


Missions  in   Chiirch  of  the   Brethren 

Of  course,  in  the  first  settlement  in  the  country  it 
was  not  so  much  a  question  of  missions  as  it  was  of 
making  a  living,  and  maintaining  the  ground  occupied 
against  all  odds.  The  same  conditions  obtained  for  all 
denominations  in  earlier  days,  though  some  made  spe- 
cific efforts  among  the  Indians,  and  thus 
Gaining  a  showed  an  earlier  interest  in  evangeliza- 

tion than  did  the  Brethren. 
From  the  very  beginning,  emigration  played  a  very 
important  part  in  the  spread  of  the  Gospel.    Into  new 
parts  of  the  country  members  moved, — 
Emigration        sometimes  as  single  families,  but  often 
in  groups.     There,  struggling  with  the 
problems  of  frontier  life,  they  maintained  the  primi- 
tive practices  of  the  Christian  church.     In  fact,  there 
is  perhaps    not    another    religious    body    which    has 
reached  out  so  effectually  and  so  far,  through  emigra- 
tion, as  have  the  Brethren.     From  east  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies  they  migrated  into  Ohio.     From  Ohio  they 
pressed  on  into  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Iowa,  accompa- 
nied by  recruits  from  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  the 
Virginias.    Then,  from  these  Central  States,  by  means 
of  a  covered  wagon, —  the  "  prairie  schooner," — and 
amid  further  hardships,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Missouri, 
and  other  border  States   received   from  these  godly 
people  a  share  of  settlers.     And  in  recent  years,  al- 
most as  though  it  occurred  in  a  season,  Oklahoma  and 
North  Dakota,  and  sections  still  farther  west  were  set- 
tled by  train-loads.     Churches  were  organized,  Dis- 
tricts formed,  and  these  new  territories  have  become 
an  important  factor  in  the  work  of  the  Brotherhood. 

22 


Dawn   of   Missions 

In  fact,  in  every  State  within  the  range  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  may  be  found  congregations  of  the  Breth- 
ren. Thus  has  the  church  spread  her  borders  in  the 
homeland  far  and  wide.  Many  of  the  neighbors  of 
near  by  settlements  of  Brethren  affiliated  with  them ; 
home  missions  have  thus  been  carried  on  in  a  most 
effectual  manner. 

Not  all  the  work  of  evangelization  has  been  done 
directly  through  emigration.     Members  and  friends, 

-,     ....    ..   1      none  of  whom  were  ministers,  took  up 

Not  Wholly  by   ,,    .     ,  ,u     (       .-       t       t 

Emieration         their  homes  on  the  frontier  far  from 

the  parent  body.  The  blessings  of  the 
sanctuary  and  the  sound  of  the  Gospel,  perhaps  too 
lightly  esteemed  when  at  home,  all  of  a  sudden  were 
greatly  desired.  The  soul  longed  for  the  Water  of 
Life  to  quench  its  thirst  and  the  "  home  preacher " 
was  begged  to  come  and  minister  unto  them.  He,  with 
heart  aflame  for  his  Master's  cause  and  willing  to  en- 
dure hardships  as  a  good  soldier, — the  kind  that  is  un- 
known today  to  the  main  body  of  the  Fraternity, — 
would  start  in  response  to  such  appeals,  for  a  two, 
four,  eight  or  ten  weeks'  tour  of  preaching.  For 
the  most  part,  his  way  was  often  through  pathless 
wildwood  and  trackless  prairies,  each  filled  with  perils 
peculiar  to  itself.  But  as  he  progressed  from  settle- 
ment to  settlement,  the  swollen  tide,  the  dark  forests, 
the  cold  and  hunger  were  soon  forgotten  when  he  be- 
held the  eager  faces  upturned  and  listening  to  his 
heavenly  messages.  The  very  scarcity  of  the  Word, 
and  the  long  intervals  between  each  visit,  made  the  old, 
old  Story  of  the  Cross  so  much  the  sweeter,  and  their 
gatherings  were  real  love  feasts  for  many  who  were 

23 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness.  God  met 
them  and  filled  them;  for  the  heralds  of  the  cross 
suffered  for  the  sake  of  the  Word  and  the  Spirit  re- 
sponded in  fullness. 

The  need  of  a  mission  board  and  financial  help  was 
not  so  pronounced,   evidently,  under  the  conditions 

existing:    in    1840,    and    earlier,    as    is 
Why  No  . 

Fin  ncial  clearly  set  forth  in  an  unsigned  article 

Burden  appearing  in    1860   in   Gospel   Visitor, 

page  108.  The  writer  says,  "Remem- 
bering the  high  and  important  calling,  which  the 
Lord  has  entrusted  to  his  church,  and  conse- 
quently to  all  his  faithful  followers,  namely  to 
go  into  all  the  world,  and  to  make  known  to  all 
nations  his  doctrine,  yea  to  preach  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature,  our  brethren,  from  the  beginning,  ac- 
knowledged it  to  be  their  solemn  duty  to  carry  the 
Gospel,  as  far  as  they  could,  and  were  also  endeavor- 
ing to  fulfil  this  duty  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  Many 
brethren  traveled  almost  yearly  over  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land,  as  far  at  least,  as  our  churches 
did  then  extend,  and  visited  as  much  as  it  was  possible 
for  them,  also  the  scattered  members,  and  this  they 
could  do  the  more  easily,  as  they  made  their  joumey- 
ings  mostly  on  horseback.  Thus  it  was  some  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  years  ago.  Then  our  brethren  could 
travel  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  miles,  and  find  almost 
every  night  a  resting  place  under  the  hospitable  roof 
of  Brethren.  Traveling  expenses,  then,  were  conse- 
quently not  heavy,  and  could,  for  that  very  reason,  be 
borne  mostly  by  the  traveling  brethren  themselves,  so 
that  the  churches,  in  which  they  resided,  had  to  con- 

24 


Dawn   of   Missions 

tribute  nothing  towards  it,  except,  perhaps,  in  a  few 
cases  where  necessity  required  it." 

The  there  were  then  no  railroads  and  but  poor 

facilities  for  travel,  yet  what  a  remarkable  extension 

of  the  kingdom  resulted,  as  seen  in  the 

Extensive  following,  from  the  same  writer  as  the 

Occupation         ,  .  ,,  _,  „    . 

f oregomg  extract :        But  now   all   is 

changed.  Our  churches  have  spread  themselves  in 
such  a  manner,  not  only  in  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wis- 
consin, Iowa,  and  Missouri,  but  out  into  the  farther 
West  of  America,  even  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  to  California  and  Oregon,  so  that,  if  some 
Brethren  bishops  would  undertake  a  visitation- 
voyage  among  all  our  churches  in  this  country,  and 
would  stop  only  one  Lord's  Day  in  each  church, 
they  would  not  be  able  to  reach  their  own  homes 
again  within  three  years.  It  could  also  not  be 
thought  of,  to  make  such  a  journey  on  horseback, 
that  is,  not  altogether,  but  would  have  to  be  pre- 
pared to  go  by  water  or  by  land,  as  circumstances 
would  require,  or  opportunities  would  offer.  The 
necessity  for  such  visitations  among  our  churches 
is  daily  more  apparent  to  such  as  have  an  extensive 
acquaintance  and  correspondence.  Requests  and 
invitations  come  from  many  of  our  brethren, 
from  every  quarter,  and  if  they  were  trying  to  obey 
every  call,  they  would  never  come  home  again." 

Some  reader  may  be  prompted  to  say  that  all  this 
is  little  or  no  missionary  work,  but  let  him  bethink 
himself  before  he  thus  speaks.  Our  fathers  labored, 
endured  hardships  and  made  willing  sacrifices  of  such 
a  character  as  would  put  to  shame  many  of  the  efforts 

25 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

of  today.     Indeed,  if  facilities  are  permitted  to  enter 
into  the  comparison,  the  founders  of  the  faith  in  these 
earher  days  were  heroes  in  their  en- 
Some    Worthy   dg^^.Qj.g      j£  the  unpubHshed  story  of 

^    *^^'  service     of     such     men     as     Daniel 

Gerber,  John  Flohry,  David  Pfautz,  Daniel  Arnold, 
Joseph  Gerber,  Christian  Johnson,  John  Price,  George 
Hoke,  Abraham  Gerber,  Benjamin  Bowman,  Abraham 
Yandt  and  Daniel  Reichard,  the  bishops  who  were 
present  at  the  Annual  Meeting  in  the  meetinghouse 
near  John  Kline's  home,  on  Linville  Creek,  Rocking- 
ham County,  Virginia,  in  May,  1837, — was  accessible, 
it  would  perhaps  put  a  vastly  different  face  on  the 
efforts  of  the  past.  To  this  list  might  be  justly  added 
such  names  as  Jacob  Hoover,  Joseph  Emmert,  John 
Wolfe,  Samuel  Murray,  Jacob  Miller,  John  Royer, 
George  Shively,  John  Umstead,  Daniel  P.  Sayler, 
Henry  Davy,  John  Metzger,  Samuel  Layman,  David 
Rittenhouse  and  others. 

In  1851  Henry  Kurtz  began  to  publish  the  Gospel 
Visitor.  No  names  appear  to  any  of  the  articles,  and 
An  Appeal  for  ^°  ^^  ^^  "°^  known  who  the  writers 
Home  Work.  ^^'^^^  °^  whence  they  wrote.  In  Au- 
gust, 1852,  some  writer  from  Indiana, 
in  speaking  of  the  persecutions  which  scattered  the 
members  at  Jerusalem,  said,  "The  Lord  had  said,  Go, 
and  He  soon  found  a  way  to  start  them  out.  And 
we  see  that,  under  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit,  they 
began  to  plant  churches  and  ordain  elders  and  bishops 
and  other  helpers  in  every  city,  God  bearing  them  wit- 
ness both  with  signs  and  wonders,  and  with  divers 
miracles  and  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  according  to  His 

26 


Dawn   of   Missions 

own  will.  .  .  .  But  the  question  arises,  Are  they  (min- 
isters) doing  as  much  as  they  might?  One  might 
say,  Traveling  ministers  or  missionaries  should  be  sent 
out.  I  see  no  precept  or  example  of  the  apostles,  to 
send  any  further  than  one  is  able  to  go.  But  another 
may  say,  The  Lord  has  called  me  to  go  into  a  foreign 
land  and  preach  the  Gospel.  But  are  you  sure  of  that  ? 
If  you  are,  you  must  go  as  an  apostle,  and  take  neither 
money  nor  scrip  for  your  journey;  for  he  gives  none. 
And  if  that  be  so,  why  do  you  tarry?  Are  you  waiting 
for  time,  place  and  invitation?  If  so,  now  is  the  ac- 
cepted time.  Come  over  into  Macedonia  (Indiana) 
and  help  us,  where  there  is  a  poor  brother,  who  has 
spent  much  time  and  money  in  traveling  and  trying  to 
preach.  We  have  heathen,  real  Indians  and  white 
men,  too,  here,  who  are  as  bad  or  worse  than  they." 

While  the  writer,  in  the  above,  does  not  argue  in 
favor  of  "  foreign  lands  "  his  words  clearly  indicate 
Ureine  ^^^^   such   sentiments   were   strongly 

Foreign  Work  ^^^°^^^^^  ^y  others.  This  is  seen, 
too,  in  the  following  extract  of  the 
same  year,  in  the  September  issue  of  the  Gospel  Vis- 
itor: "Who  is  your  brother?  The  swarthy  African 
who  toils  in  bondage  under  the  southern  sky,  is  your 
brother.  The  savage  Indian  in  the  West  is  your 
brother." 

There  is  no  uncertain  sound  in  the  Christmas  mes- 
sage of  the  same  year, — perhaps  written  by  the  editor 
A  W  Ir!  M  himself.  His  subject  is  "  The  Christ- 
p.  mas  Gift."     "Alas,"  he  writes,  in  the 

body  of  the  article,  "  how  ingenious 
is  man,  poor  sinful  man,  to  deprive  himself  and 

27 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 


others  of  the  most  glorious  truth  in  the  Gospel.  For 
if  the  term  '  world '  in  our  text  (John  3 :  16)  does 
not  mean  all  the  world,  what  does  it  mean  when  our 
Savior,  after  his  resurrection,  commanded  his  disci- 
ples to  'go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel 
to  every  creature'  (Mark  16),  and  again,  *  Go  ye, 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,'  etc.  (Matt.  28)  ;  or 
when  the  apostle  says,  '  The  grace  of  God  that  bring- 
eth  salvation,  hath  appeared  to  all  men ;'  and  another, 
'  Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins ;  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world'  ? 
Now  if  Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world,  if  that  Gospel  is  to  be  preached  in  all 
the  world  and  to  every  creature,  among  all  nations, 
God,  who  gave  us  His  Son  for  that  very  purpose,  must, 
of  course,  love  the  whole  world.  .  .  .  But  besides  many 
declarations  in  the  Word  of  God  to  the  same  purpose, 
we  are  assured  by  this  one  word  of  our  blessed  Master 
(whosoever)  that  the  conditions  of  salvation  are  open 
to  all,  accessible  to  all,  attainable  by  all,  of  every 
nation,  and  tribe,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  peo- 
ple, whether  civilized  or  barbarian,  whether  enlight- 
ened or  ignorant,  whatever  each  one's  personal  con- 
dition may  be." 

It  is  so  easy,  when  awakened  to  the  world's  need,  to 
miss  the  right  source  of  supply.  Nothing  is  more 
common,  for  the  awakened  Christian 
today,  than  to  turn  about  and 
speak  disparagingly  of  the  church's 
work  in  the  past,  put  down  a  lot  of  "  correct "  figures, 
and  censure  the  Christian  world  for  not  getting  up 
and  doing  what  might  be  done,  apparently,  at  once. 

28 


The  Right 
Source 


Dawn   of  Missions 

Such  speakers  little  know  the  real  purpose  and  method 
of  Christ  in  this  great  world  campaign  against  sin. 
Let  such  not  be  discouraged,  but  let  them  enter  the 
campaign  and  do  what,  they  say,  might  be  done.  It 
is  a  pleasure  to  find,  back  in  these  earlier  days  of 
awakening,  that  some  at  lekst  pointed  to  the  right 
source.  In  August,  1853,  another  writer  says,  "  We 
all  have  to  acknowledge  with  our  Lord  that  the  har- 
vest truly  is  great  and  the  laborers  are  few.  There- 
fore we  ought  to  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  that 
he  would  send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest." 

It  is  worthy  of  more  than  usual  notice  that  in  1858, 
in  connection  with  the  opening  of  China  to  the  com- 
mercial    world,     the   Gospel     Visitor 
ea  mg    or     should  reprint  a  very  strong  appeal 
which  first  appeared  in  the  New  York 
Observer,  and  that  the  next  year  the  appeal  of  the 
American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  should  find  space  in  the  same  columns. 
This  points  to  a  growing  foreign  missionary  sentiment, 
which  is  clearly  expressed  by  a  writer  on  page  301, 
Gospel  Visitor,  1859,  when  he  asks,  "  How  many  mis- 
sionaries have  the  Brethren  sent  out  with  the  Bread  of 
Life?   China  has  thrown  open  her  gates,  and  invited 
the  missionaries." 

That  there  should  be  opposition  to  such  views  and 
efforts,  is  but  natural  under  existing  conditions.  There 
has  always  been  opposition  to  the  ag- 
Opposltion  gressive  spread  of  the  Gospel.  Such 
a  spirit  is  manifest  today,  if  not  in 
open  methods,  in  the  still  more  subtle  and  effectual 
indifference  that  absorbs  a  great  deal  of  church  life. 

29 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

This  opposition  did  not  come  out  openly  in  debate  of 
any  kind,  yet  it  is  reflected  in  the  earnest  pleadings 
of  enthusiasts  in  favor  of  missions.  One  writer,  in 
1857,  thus  argues:  "Why  are  these  things  so?  Or 
how  long  shall  it  be  so?  It  will  remain  as  long  as 
we  forget  the  *  Go  ye '  is  the  very  first  clause  in  our 
commission.  The  brethren  too  often  even  after  such 
entreaty  think  they  cannot  leave  their  nets.  We  have 
a  great  many  churches  throughout  our  Fraternity  and 
some  of  them  have  a  goodly  number  of  speakers.  I 
know  of  some  that  have  seven  or  more;  and  some- 
times even  they  are  all  together  in  the  same  meeting, 
and  they  must  speak  a  little  and  perhaps  feel  a  little 
in  each  other's  way.  .  .  .  How  much  better  if  they  were 
to  remember  'Go  ye '  two  by  two  into  some  vacant 
place.  ...  I  spoke  of  discouragements.  How  must 
that  brother  feel  when  he  is  told  he  had  better  stay  at 
home  and  mind  his  own  business  at  home  or  such  in- 
sinuation as  to  get  rich  first  and  then  go  and  preach 
the  Gospel ;  or  if  you  go,  go  in  amongst  the  rich  first, — 
get  them  into  the  church, — that  by  going  around  the 
mountains  and  corners  and  cabins,  you  get  so  many 
poor  that  they  will  be  burthensome  to  the  church." 

There  are  those,  so  earnest  in  this  good  work  that 

they  could  not  understand  the  opposition  to  mission- 

.     ary  work  and   on   what   it  is   based. 

*•  ^^  c^  PPosi-    Thus     another     writer     presses     the 
tion  Strange  ,  .  ,,  _,  / 

subject:       There    are    thousands    of 

souls  who  are  perishing,  yea  starving  for  the  want  of 

the  Bread  of  Life.  We  say,  then,  let  us  attend  to  this 

important  matter.    But  strange,  indeed,  that  a  number 

of  our  brethren  are  opposed  to  such  a  course  of  pro- 

30 


Dawn   of   Missions 

cedure,  when  it  is  held  forth  in  the  pure  Word  of  the 
Lord,  '  Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations.'  Is 
there  a  plainer  command  in  all  of  God's  Word  than 
this  is?  .  .  .  Then  let  us  not  say  it  is  a  new  thing. 
.  .  .  Our  brethren  are  very  zealous  in  preaching  from 
a  part  of  the  commission  while  the  other  part  is  left 
untouched." 

It  is  interesting  thus  to  trace  the  Spirit's  work  in 

the  hearts  of  an  honest,  God-fearing  people  who,  in 

coping  with  the  difficult  problems  of 

The  Spirit's  ^  livelihood  in  these  frontier  settle- 
Anr  ork 

ments,   sometimes    lost   sight   of  the 

real  purpose  of  the  church  in  the  world, — to  bear  the 
words  of  reconciliation  to  perishing  souls.  But  the 
Spirit  has  always  been  able  to  take  care  of  his  work 
and  always  found  true  and  loyal  hearts  through  which 
to  reach  the  unsaved.  Ministers,  and  others  to  acom- 
pany  them,  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  longed  to  see 
all  men  saved,  and  these  could  no  more  have  been 
kept  silent  than  the  crowd  could  have  been  suppressed, 
while  crying  "  Hosanna  "  to  Jesus,  when  he  made  his 
triumphal  entry  into  Jerusalem.  These  spoke  their 
convictions  from  their  humble  pulpits ;  they  expressed 
them  with  freedom  through  the  Gospel  Visitor,  a  fear- 
less publication  under  private  ownership,  and  the 
champion  of  the  best  for  God  and  his  people.  True, 
they  met  opposition,  but  this  only  made  them  the  more 
eager  and  their  words  the  more  forceful. 


31 


Luke  5:  5  ^^  have  tolled   all  the  night,   and  have 

taken   nothing.    .    .    .    All    these    things    are 

Gen.  42:  36  against  me. 

As  for  me,  .  .  .  my  steps  had  well  nigh 

Psa.  73:  2,  3  slipped.     For  I  was  envious  at  the  foolish, 

when  I  saw  the  prosperity  of  the  wicked. — 

Psa.  73:  12-14  Behold,  these  are  the  ungodly,  who  pros- 
pered in  the  world.  .  .  .  Verily  I  have 
cleansed  my  heart  in  vain,  and  washed  my 

Psa    73*  16  hands  in  Innocency.     For  all  the  day  long 

•        *  have  I  been  plagued,   and   chastened   every 

morning. — ^When  I  thought  to  know  this, 
It  was  too  painful  for  me. 

Tonah  2*  3    4  Thou    hadst    cast    me    into    the    deep,    In 

J      an     .  o,  t  ^^^  midst  of  the  seas;  and  the  floods  com- 

passed me  about:  all  thy  billows  and  thy 
waves  passed  over  me.  Then  I  said,  I  am 
cast  out  of  thy  sight;  yet  I  will  look  again 
toward  thy  holy  temple. 

Job   5:   17-19  Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  cor- 

recteth:  .  .  .  for  he  maketh  sore,  and  bind- 
eth  up:  he  woundeth,  and  his  hands  make 
whole.  He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  trou- 
bles: yea.  In  seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch 
thee. 

Isa    51 :  10  ^^^  *^°"  "°*  ^*  which  hath  dried  the  sea, 

the  waters  of  the  great  deep;  that  hath 
made  the  depths  of  the  sea  a  way  for  the 
ransomed   to  pass  over? 

Psa    61:  2  From    the    end    of    the    earth    will    I    cry 

unto  thee,  when  my  heart  is  overwhelmed: 
lead  me  to  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  I. 


32 


11. 

Clje  (^rototl)  of  q^issionarp  Sentiment  as 

EeflecteD  in  t|)e  Deliftetations!  of 

annual  Conference 

A  BROTHERHOOD  whose  membership 
reaches  far  and  wide,  covering  territory  with 
diversified  industries  and  means  of  liveH- 
hood,  always  moves  slowly.  The  progress  of  one 
section,  which  sees  a  need  and  therefore  works  for 
it,  is  held  back  by  another  which,  not  knowing  nor 
understanding  the  need,  refuses  to  go  forward.  In 
such  an  organization,  here  and  there, 

_.  may  be  one  or  more  who  thinks  out 

Progress  "^ 

and  pleads  for  measures  far  in  advance 

of  the  rank  and  file.  Or  there  may  be,  now  and 
then,  a  congregation  with  a  bishop  whose  clear 
vision  of  opportunity  and  duty  has  prompted  him 
to  lead  his  flock  far  in  advance  of  sister  congrega- 
tions. Such  advanced  efforts  are  not  marks  of  real 
progress,  but  simply  early  forcings  of  the  real  plant, 
only  to  be  nipped  in  the  bud  by  the  wintry  winds  of 
Brotherhood  indifference,  begotten  thru  ignorance 
of  real  need  and  absence  of  the  true  spirit  of  the 
Word.  Yet  they  show  the  possibilities  of  the  plant 
and,  leaving  now  the  figure,  are  the  only  assurance 
that  there  is  real  life  and  hope  of  growth. 

In  no  place  in  church  life  is  this  more  forcibly 
portrayed  than  in  the  deliberations  of  Conference 

33 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

during  the  period  of  missionary  awakening.  The  proc- 
ess  was   slow.     The   "  Yearly  Meeting"   was   more 

concerned  about  "don'ts"  rather  than 
Little  _  «(Jq»     j^  fgij.  ^^^^  j^g      jj^g  ^^j.     ^^g 

Favoring  ^  ^,  .....,■', 

Missions  conserve  the  primitive  faith,  rather 

than  to  spread  it  throughout  the 
world.  The  prevailing  sentiment  was  far  from 
missionary;  yet  the  Brethren  were  committed  to 
obey  the  teachings  of  the  New  Testament  as  "  their 
only  rule  and  guide,"  and  the  Scriptures  were  so  ob- 
viously in  favor  of  missions  that  in  response  to  a 
query  in  1852  (Art.  8),  asking  if  the  "  commission  of 
our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ  does  not  require 
the  church  to  send  brethren  to  preach  the  Gospel 
where  the  name  of  Christ  is  not  known,"  this  very 
favorable  answer  was  given : 

The  Brethren  acknowledge  the  great  commission  of 
Christ  to  its  full  extent,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
church,  the  ministers,  and  every  private  member,  to  do 
all  that  is  in  their  power  to  fulfill  that  commission  in 
accordance  with  apostolic  practice. 

That  appears,  however,  to  be  the  end  of  the  de- 
cision, as  far  as  any  observance  of  it  is  concerned. 

...   _     ,  For  four  years  afterward,  in  "  a  letter 

A  Dead 

Letter"  ^'^^"^    Virginia "    to    the    Conference 

(Art.  22,  1856),  it  is  again  urged  that 
a  plan  be  formulated  to  carry  out  the  action  of  1852 
and  not  have  it  "  remain  a  dead  letter."  The  answer 
indicates  either  the  helplessness  or  indisposition  of 
Conference,  because,  instead  of  taking  any  steps  to 
remove  the  stigma  of  "  dead  letter,"  it  simply  "  rec- 
ommends the  subject  to  the  serious  consideration  of 

34 


Conference  Deliberations 

all  the  churches."  But  even  this  had  its  good  point, 
for  some  of  the  congregations  did  "  seriously  con- 
sider "  and  two  years  later  there  came  again,  to  the 
Conference,  a  petition  declaring,  "  There  is  a  strong 
desire  among  the  Brethren  in  various  places  to  have 
a  more  general  exertion  made  on  the  part  of  the 
church  to  have  the  truth  more  universally  spread." 

The  following  plan  was  offered  in 
_  ,         connection  with  this  petition : 

Let  each  State,  where  there  is  a  respect- 
able number  of  Brethren,  form  a  District;  let  the  Breth- 
ren there  hold  their  annual  meeting;  let  each  of  these 
divisions  have  its  treasury;  let  the  churches  that  feel 
favorable,  have  their  treasury;  let  the  churches  be  called 
upon  as  often  as  may  be  necessary  to  cast  in  their  mite 
as  a  free-Vi^ill  offering.  Then  let  these  contributions  be 
put  into  the  District  treasury,  and  let  the  District  Meet- 
ing appoint  ministering  brethren,  say  two  or  more,  if 
necessary  (such  as  are  willing  to  go),  to  travel  through 
the  respective  States  for  one  year,  their  expenses  being 
paid  and  such  other  provision  made  for  their  families 
as  may  be  thought  necessary. 

Of  course  this  plan   covered   only  "  home   mis- 
sions," but  that  was  to  the  church  in  that  day  as 
big  a  problem  as  world  missions  a'*e 
Disappoint-       ^^  ^^^  church  today.     Sentiment,  too, 
xnent  .     ,  .        ,  , 

m  favor  of  such  a  measure  was  not  de- 
veloped fully  enough  to  pass  favorably ;  and  the  dis- 
appointment to  the  earnest  members,  favoring  mis- 
sions, was  partially  compensated  only  thru  the  fol- 
lowing action : 

We  think  it  not  good  to  adopt  this  proposition,  but  we 
believe  it  is  a  subject  worthy  the  serious  and  prayerful 

35 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

consideration    of    the    Brotherhood,    and    we    recommend 
the  brethren  to  give  it  such  consideration. 

Evidently  the  above  petition  was  the  outgrowth 
of  individual  agitation  discussed  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  none  of  the 
advocates  of  these  early  efforts  can  be  located  by 
any  records  whatever.  The  brethren  themselves, 
who  figured  prominently  on  both  sides  of  the  ques- 
tion, have  long  since  gone  to  their  reward. 

But  one  can  not  be  surprised  at  the  answer  given 
when  a  careful  survey  of  the  outlook  of  the  church 
at  this  time  is  taken.  There  were  no 
g.       .  regularly  organized  State  Districts  at 

this  time.  Just  two  years  prior  (1856) 
the  "  Yearly  Meeting  "  gave  permission  to  groups 
of  churches  to  form  themselves,  if  they  so  desired, 
into  Districts,  to  settle  difficulties  and  save  that 
much  work  for  the  Annual  Meeting  (Art.  23,  1856), 
but  the  drawing  of  lines  and  mapping  out  Districts 
properly,  was  not  done  until  after  1864.  The  Stand- 
ing Committee  was  appointed  on  "  Monday  morn- 
ing "  from  among  the  bishops  present,  the  appoint- 
ing power  resting,  probably,  with  the  bishop  of  the 
congregation  where  the  meeting  was  held.*    At  this 


•Concerning  the  appointment  of  Standing  Committee,  at 
the  Conference  of  York,  Pennsylvania,  In  1912,  Bishop  J.  G. 
Royer,  in  his  address  to  the  members  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee, made  reference  to  the  manner  of  its  formation  at  this 
period.  In  a  letter  from  him,  dated  April  28,  1913,  his  age 
now  being  seventy-five,  he  has'  this  to  say:  "My  father  and 
mother  were  Annual  Meeting  people,  and  so  also  was  Uncle 
Isaac  Myers,  my  mother's  brother.  He  was  also  elder  of 
our  church.    In  1848  they  came  from  Union  County,  Pennsyl- 

36 


Conference  Deliberations 

1858  meeting  "  series  of  meetings  "  received  a  weak 
endorsement,  and  the  formula  used  today  in  baptiz- 
ing applicants  for  membership  was  finally  settled 
upon,  tho  it  was  a  reaffirming,  thru  the  report  of  a 
committee,  of  the  decision  of  1848.  It  was  the  pe- 
riod in  the  history  of  the  church  when  the  "  Yearly 
Meeting  "  thot  it  her  proper  burden  to  decide  indi- 
vidual cases  from  all  over  the  Brotherhood,  rather 
than  to  lay  down  principles  by  which  all  the  congre- 
gations could  be  directed.  This  is  instanced  in  the 
fact  that  this  same  Conference  had  fifty-eight 
queries  to  decide  upon,  seven  of  which  had  to  do 
with  seven  different  phases  of  the  divorce  question, 
while  the  fifty-eighth  is  the  missionary  plan  given 
above. 


vanla.  In  a  carriage  across  the  mountains  to  the  Annual 
Meeting  In  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  I  weH  remember  how,  on 
their  return,  they  told  of  having  met  Henry  Kurtz.  The  next 
year  the  meeting  was  held  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  on  their  return  they  spoke  of  having  met  young  Brother 
Quinter  for  the  first  time.  Uncle  Myers  would  often  come 
to  our  house  and  in  their  talk  about  the  Annual  Meeting  I 
would  hear  them  speak  of  dissatisfaction  about  the  manner 
of  appointing  the  Standing  Committee.  In  1855,  the  year 
I  joined  the  church,  the  meeting  was  held  in  the  Aughwick 
church,  Huntingdon  County,  Pennsylvania.  Here  a  little  epi- 
sode occurred  between  elders and concerning  the  elder 

In  charge  of  that  church  pointing  out  the  Standing  Committee. 
This  put  the  matter  in  the  mouths  of  a  good  many  present, 
and  not  a  few  strongly  urged  a  change  in  the  plan  of  ap- 
pointing. As  late  as  1864,  at  Hagerstown,  Indiana,  I  saw  the 
committee  receive  what  was  to  come  before  the  meeting,  and 
then,  headed  by  the  elder  in  charge  of  that  church,  they 
were  taken  to  a  private  room,  where  the  queries  were  dis- 
tributed among  sub-committees,  each  of  which  withdrew  to 
prepare  an  answer  to  the  query  given  them.  Some  of  the  sub- 
committees were  not  long  In  preparing  answers,  and  so  were 
soon  back  to  the  committee  room,  with  the  business  ready 
for  the  council.  This  enabled  the  public  council  to  go  to 
work,  while  other  sub-committees  were  preparing  further 
work." 

n 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

The  subject  of  missions  did  receive  "  serious  and 

prayerful    consideration,"   for   in   the 

Favorable  t^g^t    year    "  favorable    action  "    was 

Action   Asked  ^^^^^  ^^^  -^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  of  -  several  of 

^°^  the   churches."     To  this   request  the 

following  action  was  given : 

This  Meeting  recommends  and  gives  liberty  to  any  of 
the  Districts  or  States  to  make  a  move  on  the  subject 
of  spreading  and  sustaining  the  Gospel,  as  preached  and 
understood  by  the  Brethren,  so  that  the  same  may  be 
done  in  the  order  of  the  Gospel.  And  we  recommend 
to  those  churches  which  may  adopt  this,  to  make  a  re- 
port to  the  next  Annual  Meeting  upon  their  success. 
And  in  view  of  the  importance  of  the  subject,  we  appoint 
the  following  brethren  as  a  committee  to  propose  some 
plan  by  which  the  Brotherhood  in  general  may  take  part 
in  this  good  work;  said  plan  to  be  reported  to  the  next 
Annual  Meeting.  Committee  that  framed  the  report 
were  Daniel  P.  Sayler,  John  Kline,  John  Metzger,  and 
James  Quinter.  Daniel  P.  Sayler  is  corresponding  mem- 
ber of  the  committee. 

Just  note  that  committee!    Among  them  is  John 
Kline,  the  martyr  who  gave  his  life  for  Christ,  be- 
cause  he    would    go   from    home    to 
A  Splendid  ^g^^j^  ^^^  ^y^j.^    j^^^  Metzger,  who 

Committee         ^  ,111  r   ^.u^ 

traversed   the   broad   prairies   of   the 

Middle  West  for  the  sake  of  souls ;  James  Quinter, 

that  noble  man  who  always  was  far  in  advance  of 

his  people  and  yet  never  forsook 
The  Report      them.      One    turns    with    breathless 

eagerness  to  read  their  report  submit- 
ted the  following  year  (1860).  It  is  rather  lengthy, 
but  it  is  given  entire  because  of  what  it  reflects  in 
the  mind  of  the  Committee  which  prepared  it. 

38 


Conference  Deliberations 

The  Committee  appointed  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of 
1859,  Art.  28,  to  propose  some  plan  to  the  present  meet- 
ing, by  which  the  Brotherhood  in  general  may  take  some 
part  in  the  good  work  of  the  Lord  in  preaching  the 
Gospel  more  generally,  reports  as  follows: 

Whereas,  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  to  every  creature 
is  a  command  of  Christ,  since  he  said  to  his  disciples, 
"^Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature"  (Mark  16:  15),  and  therefore  a  duty  enjoined 
upon  all  his  disciples,  hence  it  needs  no  argument  in  its 
defense.  The  only  point  to  be  considered  is.  How  shall 
it  be  done?  Now  St.  Paul  says,  "Who  goeth  a  warfare 
any  time  at  his  own  charges"  (1  Cor.  9:  7)?  and  as  the 
Lord  Jesus  gave  "every  man  his  work,  as  well  as  his 
servants  authority"  (Mark  13:  34),  "For  the  Son  of  Man 
is  as  a  servant  taking  a  far  journey,  who  left  his  house, 
and  gave  authority  to  his  servants,  and  to  every  man  his 
work."  It  is,  therefore,  evident  that  he  did  not  mean 
that  his  ministering  servants  should  be  burdened  with 
the  duty  of  preaching  his  Word,  and  also  bear  the  ex- 
penses incurred  in  traveling  from  place  to  place,  while  all 
the  members  of  the  body  remain  idle. 

The  Committee  understands  the  Lord  Jesus  to  mean 
that  the  church,  his  body  on  earth  (1  Cor.  12:  27)  shall, 
unitedly,  preach  his  Gospel  in  all  the  world,  by  the  min- 
istry, through  the  Holy  Ghost;  and,  therefore,  the  church 
should  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  forth  la- 
borers, for  so  Jesus  commanded  his  disciples,  saying: 
"The  harvest  truly  is  plenteous,  but  the  laborers  are  few; 
pray  ye,  therefore,  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  will 
send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest"  (Matt.  9:  37,  38). 
And  it  appears,  from  the  following  accounts  in  Acts  13: 
2,  3,  that  this  was  the  practice  of  the  apostolic  church: 
"As  they  ministered  to  the  Lord,  and  fasted,  the  Holy 
Ghost  said,  Separate  me  Barnabas  and  Saul  for  the  work 
whereunto  I  have  called  them.  And  when  they  had 
fasted  and  prayed,  and  laid  their  hands  on  them,  they 
sent  them  away." 

39 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

And,  in  view  of  the  above  considerations,  the  committee 
offers  the  following  advice:  That  the  churches  of  the 
Brotherhood  form  themselves  into  Districts,  the  Brethren 
in  those  Districts  to  meet  as  often  as  they  may  judge  it 
necessary  to  transact  their  business;  that  each  of  said 
Districts  has  its  treasury,  and  each  one  of  the  churches 
which  form  said  Districts  has  its  treasury,  the  former  to 
be  supplied  out  cf  the  latter,  and  the  latter  to  be  supplied 
by  weekly  contributions,  as  directed  by  the  Apostle  Paul 
(1  Cor.  16:  2):  "Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  every 
one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God  has  prospered 
him,  that  there  be  no  gathering  when  I  come," — a  plan  for 
raising  pecuniary  funds,  of  divine  appointment,  and  is 
one  which  commends  itself  to  our  acceptance,  both  from 
its  authority  and  excellence. 

And  in  order  that  the  funds  collected  may  be  the  most 
judiciously,  satisfactorily,  and  economically  applied,  we 
advise  that  each  sub-district  or  church  appoint  at  least 
one  delegate  to  attend  the  general  District  Meetings,  and 
that  these  meetings  so  dispose  of  the  funds  collected  as 
they  shall  judge  most  conducive  to  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  salvation  of  souls.  And  in  order  to  preserve  a  proper 
harmony  between  all  the  congregations  of  the  Brother- 
hood, 

We  further  advise  that  each  general  District  Meeting 
send  a  delegate  to  the  Annual  Meeting,  and  by  the  dele- 
gate a  report  of  its  proceedings,  that  all  such  proceedings 
may  be  in  harmony  with  the  regulations,  as  made  by  the 
Brethren  assembled  in  Annual  Council,  and  subject  to  in- 
spection and  control  of  that  body.  And  in  case  any  de- 
mands of  a  general  character  for  evangelists  are  made, 
sufficiently  so  to  require  the  action  of  the  Annual  Meet- 
ing, then,  in  that  case,  the  funds  needed  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  said  evangelists  shall  be  drawn  from  the 
treasuries  of  the  several  Districts. 

And  as  the  conviction  of  mind  seems  to  be  general 
among  the  Brethren  that  greater  exertion  should  be  made 
by  the  Brotherhood  to  have  the  Gospel  preached  in  every 

40 


Conference  Deliberations 

place,  the  committee  would  remind  the  ministry  that  the 
foregoing  plan  is  by  no  means  designed  to  supersede  the 
labors  of  our  ministers  in  their  individual  capacities.  But 
we  recommend  to  all  our  preachers  to  labor,  as  they  have 
been  accustomed  to  do,  without  money  and  without  price, 
as  far  as  their  circumstances  will  permit  them  to  do  so, 
showing,  as  they  have  hitherto  done,  in  a  remarkable 
degree,  the  Christian  grace  of  self-denial — a  grace  which 
shone  brightly  in  the  life  of  our  Divine  Master,  and  which 
occupies  a  prominent  place  in  his  teachings. 

We  further  recommend  to  all  our  preachers  to  submit 
the  above  plan  to  their  congregations,  hoping  that  it  will 
meet  with  their  acceptance. 

The  report  was  made  at  Limestone,  Tennessee, 
where  the  Conference  was  held.    The  representation 

"  was  unusually  small,  there  being 
At^   ,  but  few  delegates  from  Ohio,  Indiana, 

Illinois  and  Iowa,  and  none  at  all  from 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey.  There  were  repre- 
sented in  the  council  but  sixty  churches."  Because 
of  this  action  was  deferred  one  year,  and  the  report 
spread  on  the  Minutes.  The  meeting  then  "  ac- 
knowledges the  necessity  of  increased  efforts  am.ong 
us  to  spread  the  Gospel,  and  still  gives  the  liberty 
that  was  given  by  the  last  Annual  Council,  to  any 
of  the  churches  which  may  see  their  way  open  to  do 
so,  to  engage  in  the  work  of  evangelism." 

In  the  September  number  of  the  Gospel  Visitor 
for  1860,  page  279,  appears  an  article  in  which  the 
.  writer  approved  of  the  above  report, 

Q  .  •  save  in  one  particular,  and  his  notions 

are  here  given  as  representing  a  senti- 
ment, strong  enough,  at  least,  to  get  into  print.  The 
writer  objects  to  "  the  manner  of  sending  out  mis- 

41 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

sionaries  "  as  provided  therein.  He  argues  that  if 
"  several  well-established  brethren  "  be  sent  to  Ore- 
gon and  California,  to  "  set  things  in  order  .  .  . 
it  will  be  conducive  of  much  good  and  the  glory  of 
God."  But  if  they  be  sent  "to  convert  sinners  to 
God  and  organize  churches  and  continue  with  them 
six  or  twelve  months,  and  then  return  home,  it  will 
be,  in  the  majority  of  instances,  money  spent  in 
vain,  and  labor  lost." 

The  writer  then  offers  a  plan  that  is 
Another    Plan  i  i 

Q-      ,  given    space    here    because    a    query 

came  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  1861 

endorsing  it.    The  plan  is  as  follows : 

In  the  first  place,  let  all  the  brethren  and  sisters  in 
Christ  Jesus  be  seriously  engaged  in  prayer  to  God,  that 
a  holy  zeal  may  be  awakened  in  the  hearts  of  the  minis- 
ters of  God;  that  many  of  the  ministers  may  be  made 
willing  to  bid  adieu  to  their  stately  mansions,  their  well- 
improved  farms,  the  home  of  their  childhood,  where  all 
the  pleasant  scenes  of  life  have  made  home  sweet  to 
them,  and  let  them  move  to  those  places  where  they  are 
most  needed,  and  settle  down  and  preach  the  Word.  Let 
the  "marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus  be  seen  upon  their  bodies," 
by  their  walk  and  conduct,  by  their  chaste  conversation 
and  general  good  deportment  through  life,  that  they  may 
be  ensamples  to  the  flock,  and  if  Satan  then  tries  to  make 
inroads  of  confusion  upon  them,  he  will  have  some  to 
contend  with  who  know  something  about  his  wiles,  and 
treacherous  arts.  .  .  .  And  if  any  of  those  ministers  are  so 
circumstanced  in  life,  as  to  need  help  to  move  there,  and 
to  perform  this  great  task,  then  let  the  necessary  amount 
be  drawn  from  those  funds  of  "Divine  appointment,"  and 
help  those  brethren. 

The  writer,  in  discussing  his  plan,  says,  "  I  think 
it  would  be,  by   far,  the  least   expensive  to   the 

42 


Conference  Deliberations 

churches,  as,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  the  ministers 

are  able  to  go  and  get  homes  there,  without  help."* 

Sugar  Creek  congregation,  Allen  County,  Ohio, 

entered  a  "remonstrance  against  all  plans  that  have 

been  recommended  "  save  the  one  just 
Silence  preceding.    But  the  attendance  at  the 

Conference  was  small  and  all  papers 
on  this  subject  were  again  deferred  another  year. 
Tho  there  were  sixty-nine  queries  before  this  next 
Conference,  not  one  of  them  touched  the  subject  of 
missions,  and  no  reference  is  given  to  the  deferred 
subject.  In  fact,  the  subject  of  missions  drops  out 
of  all  record  entirely  till  1868.  There,  perhaps,  was 
good  reason  for  this  silence.  During  the  time  the 
bloody  conflict  between  the  North  and  the  South, — 
the  Civil  War, — was  raging.  An  humble  people  who, 
for  so  long  a  time,  had  stood  for  peace  and  non- 
resistance,  were  now  being  put  to  the  test,  and  a  se- 
vere one  it  was,  along  the  border  lines  of  conflict. 
Our  Brethren  were  harassed  on  every  side.  Many 
lost  all  their  property.  The  privilege  of  worshiping 
together  was  often  denied,  and  they  had  more  than 
they  could  do  at  their  own  doors. 

After  peace  had  been  restored  in  the  land  for  a 
couple  of  years,  and  the  people  were  regaining  a 
1860  Report  foothold  in  their  vocations,  a  query 
Adopted  in  came  to  the  Annual  Meeting,  held  in 
1868  Elkhart,  Indiana,  in  1868,  asking  that 

the  plan  of  1858  or  some  other  one  be  adopted.    To 


•The  writer  closes  his  article  by  offering  to  sell  his  farm 
In  Jackson  County,  Iowa,  very  cheap,  to  move,  with  some 
other  families,  to  California.  He  also  has  an  advertisement 
in  the  "Gospel  Visitor"  to  the  same  effect. 

43 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

this  was  given  the  answer,  "  This  meeting  adopts 

the  report  presented  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  1860." 

(This  is  given  in  full  on  page  39.) 

This  gave  new  hope  to  those  who  had  waited  so 

long  for  an  organized  effort  in  missions,  and  sad  it 

.  is    to    chronicle    another    disappoint- 

Continued  .    j-       .  i  i       ,  •   • 

p,^  ment,  for  there  was  no  real  activity. 

In  1872  some  District  asked  Annual 
Meeting  to  "  adopt  some  measure  to  provide  and 
supply  ministerial  aid  for  churches  where  there  is  no 
preacher,  also  to  fill  calls,  open  missions,  preach  the 
Gospel  and  introduce  the  principles  of  the  Brethren 
in  many  sections  within  said  District,  which  they 
have  not  yet  reached?  "  The  query  came  before  the 
Meeting  without  an  answer.  Standing  Committee 
put  one  to  it,  but  the  entire  matter  "  was  afterward 
overlooked,"  and  did  not  come  before  the  council.* 
Then,  in  1874,  Annual  Meeting  was  again  peti- 
tioned to  "  perfect  the  plan  and  carry  it  into  effect." 
The  answer  is: 

We  can  not  see  how  we  can  make  a  more  perfect  plan 
than  the  one  referred  to  in  the  query,  but  we  request  the 
churches  having  such  calls  to  make  arrangements  to 
carry  out  said  plan. 

Even  this  brot  no  action.  In  1879  Western  Dis- 
trict of  Pennsylvania  urged  "  the  mission  work  of 
evangelism,"  and  in  1880  a  plan  was  adopted  and 
a  committee  appointed,  from  which  organization  re- 
ports were  made  and  real  work  begun.  This  begins 
the  organized  effort  of  "Thirty-three  Years  of  Mis- 
sions in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren." 


•Editorial  in  "  Progressive  Christian,"  January  10,  1879. 

44 


Conference  Deliberations 

Were  our  dear  Brethren,  during  the  period  cov- 
ered   by    this    chapter,    anti-missionary    at    heart? 
.  Hardly  so.    True,  they  did  not  favor 

yr-  methods  that  would  have  brot  splen- 

did results  in  their  home  mission  field, 
and  in  that  sense  they  were  opposed  to  missions. 
But,  really,  at  heart  they  loved  the  Word;  they 
wanted  people  saved  and  rejoiced  to  see  sinners 
turn  to  God,  They  had,  however,  gone  thru  the  en- 
durance test  of  each  man  witnessing  for  himself 
amidst  frontier  problems  and  they  could  not  see  the 
need  nor  the  wisdom  of  sending  men,  as  was  now 
agitated  in  the  plans  ofifered.  In  the  earlier  part  of 
this  period  the  minister  and  layman  stood  side  by 
side,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  fought  poverty,  con- 
quered the  wilds,  endured  malignant  diseases,  and 
battled  with  the  trying  frontier  life.  He  who  was 
called  upon  to  minister  in  heavenly  things  did  so 
out  of  the  fullness  of  his  heart  "  without  money  and 
without  price,"  because  his  labors  practically  cost 
him  no  money.  Later  on,  times  changed,  but  the 
change  stole  upon  their  sincere  lives  so  stealthfully 
that  they  were  not  aware  of  it.  And  so,  with  hon- 
esty of  purpose  and  a  desire  to  see  the  Word  treas- 
ured in  the  heart  in  all  its  heavenly  purity  and  pur- 
pose, they  opposed  any  plan  that  would  lay  a  burden 
on  the  membership  that  looked  towards  paying  any 
one  for  labor  in  the  Lord.  If  they  withstood  missions 
they  did  so  as  God-fearing  men,  even  if  their  course 
can  not  be  commended. 


45 


/oAn  is:  s 


John  15:  4,  5 


Matt.  14:  28-31 


John  11:  32 

John  11:  23 

Philpp.  2:  13 
Col.  2:  10 
2  Cor.  12:  9 

Psa.  87:  7 
Philpp.  4:  13 


Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the  branch 
cannot  bear  fruit  of  Itself,  except  It  abide 
In  the  vine;  no  more  can  ye,  except  ye 
abide  in  me.  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the 
branches:  He  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in 
him,    the   same  bringeth   forth   much   fruit. 

Peter  .  .  .  said,  Lord,  if  it  be  thou,  bid 
me  come  unto  thee  on  the  water.  And  he 
said,  Come.  And  when  Peter  was  come 
down  out  of  the  ship,  he  walked  on  the 
water,  to  go  to  Jesus.  But  when  he  saw 
the  wind  boisterous,  he  was  afraid;  and  be- 
ginning to  sink,  he  cried,  saying.  Lord, 
save  me!  And  immediately  Jesus  stretched 
forth  his  hand,  and  caught  him,  and  said 
unto  him,  O  thou  of  little  faith,  where- 
fore didst  thou  doubt? 

When  Mary  was  come  where  Jesus  was, 
and  saw  him,  she  fell  down  at  his  feet, 
saying  unto  him.  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been 
here,  my  brother  had  not  died. — Jesus  saith, 
.  .  .  Thy  brother  shall  rise  again. 

It  is  God  which  worketh  in  you  both 
to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure. — And 
ye  are  complete  in  him,  which  is  the  head 
of  all  principality  and  power. — He  said  unto 
me.  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee:  for  my 
strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness. — 
All  my  springs  are  in  thee. 

I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ  which 
strengtheneth  me. 


46 


III. 

/^  Cbe  H^eto  OBlement  of  iForeign  ^i00ion0 
in  Developing  0@ii5$ionatp  interest 

WHILE  the  Brotherhood  was  struggling 
with  the  problem  of  home  missions  by 
means  of  horseback  tours  and  kindred 
methods  among  the  churches,  the  Lord  was  provid- 
ing the  way  in  a  distant  land  to  help  the  church  to 
look  beyond  the  seas  to  win  souls  to  Christ.  How 
strangely  He  does  work!  In  an  humble  home  on 
Fyn  Island,  Denmark,  on  December 

ar  y      i  e   o   ^  1844,  Christian  Hope  was  born.  His 
C.   Hope  '  ,       '  ,  f .     .      ,  . 

rather  was  a  farmer,  limited  in  means, 

and  yet  the  family  deprived  itself  that  the  son  might 
be  in  school  seven  consecutive  years.  He  learned 
readily,  applied  himself  closely,  and  in  due  time 
reached  his  manhood  fairly  well  equipped  for  life's 
duties.  His  natural  ability  prompted  the  father  to 
set  him  apart  for  the  ministry,  but  the  mother  did 
not  so  agree,  and  a  compromise  was  made  by  learn- 
ing the  harness-maker's  trade.  There  being  "  no  va- 
cancy," he  did  not  enter  the  army  until  he  saw  the 
folly  of  mortal  conflict.  Thus,  under  a  kind  unseen 
Hand,  he  was  being  led  for  active  service  in  the 
army  of  the  Lord  later  in  life. 

In  1864,  when  twenty  years  old,  sorrow  for  sin 
and   a   life   unsaved   came   over  him.     The   State 

47 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

church,  from  the  beginning,  did  not  answer  his  soul 
cries.    He  turned  to  the  Baptists,  learned  of  them  for 

a  year,  and  at  last  entered  their  fel- 
Conviction  lowship    by    being    baptized    in    the 

North  Sea  April  1,  1865.  Peace  was 
not  found,  however.  His  high  ideals  of  Christ's 
power  in  each  Hfe  brought  two  sources  of  disap- 
pointment. First,  his  outspoken  disapproval  of  con- 
duct by  professed  Christians,  including  some  acts  of 
the  King,  brought  him  persecution  and  trouble. 
Then  the  members  of  the  church  were  not  up  to  his 
standard. 

Nevertheless  he  was   a  determined   preacher  of 
righteousness  and  these  things  only  made  him  the 

more  zealous.    Not  only  with  tongue 
Tracts  and        ^^^  ^j^j^  fluent  pen  did  he  now  preach 

Christ  and  denounce  sin  most  effect- 
ively everywhere.  His  tracts  brought  him  and  his 
printer  under  judgment  of  the  Crown.  The  punish- 
ment was  light  and  he  resumed  preaching  with  such 
vigor  that  during  a  certain  four  months  he  held  340 
meetings.  He  mingled  freely  with  religious  peo- 
ple, helped  inquirers  and  did  all  he  could  for  Christ. 
Two  new  tracts,  "The  Mark  of  the  Beast"  and 
"  Redemption,"  brought  new  indignation  from  the 
government.  Twenty  kroners  were  offered  for  his 
apprehension,  but  the  way  of  escape  by  Norway 
opened  to  him,  and  he  came  to  America,  the  asylum 
from  all  religious  persecution. 

One  and  a  half  years  were  spent  in  comparative 
quiet  in  Central  Iowa,  during  which  time  he  was 
married  to  a  daughter  of  Brother  Nidson.    Then  he 

48 


Plate    1 


Opposite    48 


Christian  Hope. 


The  House  in  Which  Enoch  Eby  and  Saniel  Pry  Lived  While 
in   Hjorring,    Denmark,    in   1877. 

(Beginning  at  left,  the  second  is  C.  Hansen,  first  brother 
baptized  in  Denmark;  tlie  fourtli  is  C.  Eskildsen,  tlTe  first 
bisliop  of  Denmark,  and  still  presiding  over  the  Vensyssel 
congregation;  tlie  fifth,  Mrs.  Christina  Paulson,  the  first 
sister  baptized  in  Denmark.     Photograph  taken  in  1910.) 


The  New  Element 

moved  to  Clinton,  Iowa,  where  he  united  with  the 

American  Baptists.    But  he  was  not  content, — search- 

_      ,  ine:  and  longing:  for  he  knew  not  what. 

Sundry  u  j  •,  ui  t 

Changes  "^^    ^^^^    every    available    scrap    of 

religious  literature  to  be  satisfied. 
In  the  back  part  of  a  large  English  family  Bible 
were  found  short  sketches  of  different  sects.  Here 
he  first  learned  of  the  Brethren  thru  a  sketch  pre- 
pared by  Howard  Miller.  Trine  immersion  arrested 
his  attention,  and  the  principles,  as  a  whole,  ap- 
pealed to  him.  He  diligently  sought  for  these  be- 
lievers in  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Chicago  and 
other  places  for  two  years,  yet  learned  nothing 
about  them.  Not  despairing  but  always  doing  the 
best  he  knew  how,  he  moved  to  Rock  Island,  Illi- 
nois, and  united  with  the  Swedish  Baptists.  He 
took  up  the  ministry,  laboring  with  his  hands  to 
support  his  family  and  seeking  to  win  souls  for 
Christ.  Some  thirty  people  confessed  under  his  la- 
bors, but  as  he  witnessed  their  immersion,  the  idea 
of  triune  immersion  constantly  pressed  itself  upon 
him.  The  more  he  studied  the  Bible,  the  clearer 
was  his  conviction  that  it  was  not  only  Apostolic 
but  the  clear  teachings  of  the  Word. 

On  one  occasion,  while  active  in  religious  work  in 
Rock  Island,  a  lady  of  his  congregation  came  to  him 
for  help  to  meet  the  inroads  of  the 
A  Clew  Seventh  Day  Adventists.    Thru  a  re- 

mark she  dropped,  Brother  Hope  saw 
a  clew  to  locate  the  Brethren.  He  followed  it  and 
after  many  events,  trying  to  him,  tho  not  important 
to  this  record,  he,  with  his  father-in-law,  came  to 

49 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

the  hospitable  home  of  George  D.  Zollers, 
then  Hving  in  the  Hickory  Grove  church  of  North- 
ern Illinois.  In  Brother  Hope's  own  words  this  in- 
dicates the  state  of  his  mind  at  that  time :  "  In  these 
long  years  of  labor  and  sacrifices,  and  God-given 
grace, — in  those  years  of  honest  motives,  yet  so  full 
of  error,  I  had  one  clear  and  distinct  idea  of  duty. 
I  knew  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  sinner  to  be  taught, 
and  the  duty  of  the  church  to  do  this  work.  I  saw 
that  a  great  deal  of  wrong,  and  error,  and  wicked- 
ness, had  entered  into  the  world  because  those  who 
had  espoused  Christianity  had  not  submitted  to  the 
church  and  their  teacher,  but  either  before  or  after 
they  joined,  exalted  themselves  and  ran  ahead  with 
their  own  ideas  and  divers  doctrines.  I  knew,  too, 
that  I  had  never  been  taken  in  and  taught,  because 
I  had  no  Brethren  to  warn  me,  to  keep  me,  to  stay 
me, — ^because  I  had  no  man  to  advise  me,  hence  I 
often  erred,  not  knowing  better  at  the  time.  Often 
had  I  been  urged  to  organize  a  church  on  the  basis 
of  what  I  regarded  gospel  principles ;  but  I  could 
not.  I  felt  a  willingness  to  hunt  for  such  a  people 
until  death  rather  than  set  up  a  church.  I  felt  sure 
such  a  people  existed  and  that  I  would  be  permitted 
to  see  them  "  (History  of  Danish  Mission  by  M.  M. 
Eshelman,  1881). 

Brother  Hope  had  found  the  long-desired  people, 
or  rather  a  congregation  of  them.     He  worshiped 

with  them  and  his  soul  overflowed 
Baptized  with  joy.    His  own  longing,  searching 

heart  was  satisfied.  A  little  later  he 
moved    his    family     to    Mt.    Carroll,    Illinois,    and 

50 


The  New  Element 

October  25,  1874,  he  and  two  others  were  received 
into  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  by  baptism.  Short- 
ly after  he  moved  to  Lanark,  IlHnois,  and  engaged 
in  the  harness-making  trade. 

The  Brethren  were  not  only  kind  but  interested 

in  Brother  Hope.     They  dropped  into  his  shop  to 

.        talk  with  him  and  asked  him  about 

Wed  e  ^^^  ^^^  country,  its  customs,  people 

and  religion.  True  to  the  spirit  of 
one  born  of  God,  he  yearned  to  have  the  same  joy 
come  to  the  hearts  of  his  friends  as  had  come  to  him, 
and  he  assured  his  callers  that  there  were  many  in 
Denmark  who  would  receive  the  Word  gladly.  This 
assurance  did  not  fall  on  dead  ears.  During  his 
spare  moments  he  was  translating  Brethren's  tracts 
into  the  Danish  language,  all  the  time  wishing  and 
praying  that  there  was  some  way  to  publish  them. 

One  day  Brother  M.  M.  Eshelman  dropped  into 
the  shop  and  soon  the  conversation  led  to  the  sub- 

ject  of  publishing  tracts.  Brother 
Fund  Hope  had  written  an  article  on  the 

subject  but  hesitated  to  offer  it  for 
publication ;  but  Brother  Eshelman  getting  hold  of 
it,  the  article  soon  appeared  in  the  Pilgrim,  a  church 
paper  then  published  at  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania. 
At  the  same  time  Brother  Eshelman  said  he  would 
give  twenty-five  cents  towards  a  tract  fund  if  Broth- 
er Hope  would  do  likewise.  The  fund  was  started. 
The  call  thru  the  Pilgrim  soon  brot  $400,  and  they 
were  ready  to  print  all  the  tracts  they  needed. 

During  the  time  of  the  gathering  of  the  fund  for 
tracts.  Brother  Hope  sent  a  copy  of  J.  H.  Moore's 

51 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

"Perfect  Plan  of  Salvation;  or  Safe  Ground"  and 

M.   M.   Eshelman's   "One   Faith"   to   a  young  man, 

Christian   Hansen,   in  Denmark.     He 

A   Call   from     ^^^^^  ^^^^  English,  carefully  studied 

the  messages  and  wrote  to  the 
Hickory  Grove  congregation,  Carroll  County,  Illi- 
nois, asking  to  have  the  Gospel  preached  in  Den- 
mark, and  to  receive  him  into  membership. 
/'  Such  an  appeal  brot  quick  action  in  Northern  Illi- 
/  nois,  a  District  always  well  in  the  lead  in  all  phases 
-  ,         .         of  church  work.     A  special  District 

Special  Dis-      ^/[ge^j^g  was  called  for  November  12, 
trict    Meeting   ^^^^      ^    „,  ^  ,         ,        , 

1875,  at  Cherry  Grove,  the  church- 
house  a  few  miles  north  of  Lanark.  Every  congre- 
gation but  one  in  the  District  was  represented ; 
every  seat  and  all  standing  room  were  occupied  by 
earnest,  sympathizing  members.  The  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  moved  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people.  The 
call  from  over  the  waters  must  be  heard,  but  who 
will  go?  Hearts  were  burdened;  the  question  was 
momentous.  It  was  agreed  that  the  delegates 
should  choose  two,  and  the  meeting  would  call  upon 
the  Brotherhood  to  help  bear  the  expense. 

The  choice  fell  upon  Brethren  Enoch  Eby  and 
Paul  Wetzel.  For  some  time  after  the  announce- 
ment was  made,  there  was  such  weep- 
Two  Chosen  ing  and  sobbing  as  is  rarely  heard  or 
felt  in  public  gatherings.  It  was  a 
never-to-be-forgotten  day,  as  the  few  still  living, 
who  were  permitted  to  be  present,  testify. 

Brother   Eby  announced  that  they  would   need 
an    interpreter.      Eagerly    the    meeting   turned    to 

52 


The   New   Element 

Brother  Hope  as  its  choice.    Then  and  there  he  was 
put  into  the  ministry.    This  came  as  a  surprise  to  our 

young  Danish  brother.  How  quickly 
Pre  ^ed  things     were     done !      The     Brethren 

decided  on  that  day  that  Brother 
Hope  and  family  should  proceed  at  once  to  Den- 
mark and  open  up  the  work,  and  later  the  two 
chosen  would  follow.  January  1,  1876,  Brother 
Hope  and  family  left  Lanark,  visited  some  congre- 
gations on  their  way  and,  after  a  fourteen  days' 
voyage,  landed  at  Bremen,  Germany.  Thence  they 
proceeded  at  once  to  Aalborg,  Denmark,  where 
Brother  Hope's  parents  lived. 

A  home  was  found.     At  once  the  publishing  of 
tracts  was  begun.    Brother  Hansen,  the  young  man 

who  asked  for  membership,  was  serv- 

First  .  .•       •      1  .  , 

_  mg  as  an  apprentice  m  learnmg  the 

tailoring  trade.  His  contract  expired 
May  1,  1876,  and  on  May  5  he  was  baptized, — the 
first  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  on  for- 
eign soil.  On  May  27  the  first  sister  was  also  bap- 
tized. She  afterwards  married  a  young  man  who 
was  a  faithful  minister  in  the  church  and  died  in  1908. 
This  sister,  Christina  Poulson,  is  still  living. 

Brother  C.  Hansen  was  not  long  in  the  church 

until  he  was  ordered  to  go  to  the  army  and  learn  the 

art  of  war.     He  declined  and  being 

In  Prison  cast  into  prison,  endured  hardships  as 

a  good  soldier.*     Thru  it  all  he  was 

faithful  and  patient  and  did  all  he  could  for  his  Lord. 


♦See  illustration. 

53 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

A  joyful  and  historic  year  was  1877.    The  mem- 
bership increased,  the  workers  were  encouraged  and 

_  .  ^       the    enemy    was   getting:   in    earnest. 

Eby  and  Fry     .r.       ^,-  jijr 

.     .  '    Alter  travehng  on  sea  and  land  for 

eighteen  days,  from  the  time  they  left 

New  York,  Brethren  Eby  and  Fry,  accompanied  by 

their  wives,  arrived   in   Bronderslev,  Denmark,   at 

the  home  of  Brother  Hansen.     (Brother  Wetzel  not 

being  able  to  come,  Brother  Fry  took  his  place.) 

Brother  Eby's  own  words,  quoted  from  Eshelman's 

History  of  the  Danish  Mission,  1881,  are  in  place  at 

this  point: 

"At  this  place   (Bronderslev)   we  shall  ever  re- 
member the  heart-beating  joy  we  experienced  in 
meeting  our  dear  Brethren  C.  Hope 

_  .  and   C.   Hansen,  the  latter  living  in 

Impressions        ...  ,      •  ,       i 

this  place,  and  with  whom  we  ate  our 

first  meal  of  black  bread,  cheese  made  of  goat's  milk, 
and  coffee,  which  had  the  relish  of  an  American  tur- 
key roast;  for  the  welcome  which  we  received 
seemed  to  season  the  food  with  heaven's  choicest 
blessings.  After  a  little  rest  and  brotherly  greet- 
ings, we  pursued  our  way  five  miles  west  by  wagon, 
to  the  house  of  Brother  Hope,  and  had  another  joy- 
ful meeting  with  Sister  Hope  and  children  and  a 
Danish  sister.  Here  we  remained  several  days  as 
members  of  the  family,  attracting  much  notice  and 
curiosity  among  the  people,  and  admiration  among 
the  members.  Some  said,  'Well,  they  did  not  send 
boys  over  here.'  Others  said,  'They  just  look  like  the 
Apostles,'  and  still  others,  perhaps,  like  the  Athen- 
ians, said,  'What  will  these  babblers  have  to  say? 

54 


The  New   Element 

They  bring  strange  things  to  our  ears  because  they 
preach,  Except  ye  repent  and  be  baptized,  and  then 
keep  the  commandments  of  Jesus,  we  can  not  be 
saved.  We  must  not  go  to  war  but  love  our  ene- 
mies. We  must  not  swear  by  any  oath ;  we  must  not 
conform  to  this  world.  We  can  not  put  away  our 
wives  by  divorce  and  marry  another.' 

"At  the  time  of  our  arrival  there  were  ten  mem- 
bers in  Denmark,  one  more  was  added  in  a  few 

_.  _  .  days;  then,  by  the  desire  of  all  the 
The  Church  u  ^  j       . 

^  TT.      .  members,  arrangements  were  made  at 

at  Hjorring  ,     ,  ,     f      ^ 

once  to  hold  the  first  love   feast  m 

Denmark  on  the  18th  day  of  November  in  Brother 
Hope's  house,  at  which  time  two  more  were  added, 
making  in  all  nineteen  communicants,  including 
Brother  and  Sister  Hope  and  ourselves.  There  was 
a  remarkable  interest  at  this  meeting  by  all ;  for 
none  present  ever  before  saw  the  ordinances  of  the 
church  practiced  according  to  apostolic  order  (save 
we  who  went  from  America),  and  never  did  I  wit- 
ness a  more  enjoyable  feast  to  the  members,  nor 
more  admired  by  all  present.  At  this  meeting,  by 
the  unanimous  consent  of  all  present.  Brother  Hope 
was  ordained  to  the  eldership,  and  an  election  was 
held  for  one  minister  and  one  deacon.  After  the 
Scripture  was  read  and  briefly  commented  upon, 
which  set  forth  the  qualifications  of  the  elder  and 
the  deacon,  the  members  were  requested  to  cast 
their  vote ;  and  the  result  was  that  Birother  Eskild- 
sen  was  chosen  to  the  ministry  and  Brother  C.  Niel- 
sen to  the  deaconship. 
"We  then  continued  to  preach  by  interpretation 

55 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

(Brother  Hope  being  our  interpreter)  as  time  and 

^   ,,      .  opportunity    would    permit:    and    as 

Ordination  ^^  -^  aa   a  ^     ^u       ^.       x, 

-.     .  some  more  were  added  to  the  church, 

it  was  unanimously  desired  to  have 
another  communion  season  before  we  returned  to 
America,  which  was  held  at  the  place  of  the  former 
one  on  the  6th  of  January,  1878,  with  the  same  de- 
gree of  solemnity  and  interest  as  the  former  one. 
At  this  meeting  Brother  Eskildsen  was  also  or- 
dained an  elder  without  a  dissenting  voice,  when  the 
reason  was  fully  explained,  which  was  to  have  the 
church  prepared  to  perform  any  business  without 
official  aid  from  America."  It  was  also  at  the  spe- 
cial request  of  Brother  Hope  that  Brother  Eskildsen 
should  have  the  oversight  of  the  first  church  in  Den- 
mark so  as  to  avoid  the  chance  of  it  being  said  that 
he  (Hope)  was  the  founder  or  father  of  the  church. 
A  most  commendable  move  on  the  part  of  our 
brother. 

The  time  for  Brethren  Eby  and  Fry  to  return  to 
America  arrived.     It  was  a  sad  day  in  February, 
1878,  when  they  bade  farewell  to  the 
America  little  flock,  for  the  sheep  had  learned 

to  love  their  shepherds.  Of  this  in- 
cident, and  especially  the  wisdom  of  sending  the  sis- 
ters with  the  brethren.  Brother  Hope  himself  makes 
the  following  observations :  "  It  was  wise  and  pru- 
dent that  Northern  Illinois  sent  two  brethren  and 
two  sisters  over  to  us.  They  were  a  great  help  to 
the  church  here,  though  they  could  not  speak  the 
Danish  language.  The  brethren  alone  would  never 
have  done  what  they  and  their  wives  together  did ; 

56 


The  New  Element 

hence  no  one  should  blame  the  District  for  sending 
them." 
f^During  these  most  interesting  developments   in 
'^^orthern  Illinois  and  Denmark,  what  was  the  atti- 
tude of  the  Brotherhood?    And  what 
Brotherhood      ^^^   Conference  doing?      \s  for  the 
Divided 

Brotherhood,  there  was  much  division 

concerning  this  mission,  as  well  as  other  subjects. 
A  comparatively  few  rejoiced  in  the  good  work  and 
gave  it  their  support.  Many  more  stood  surprised 
and  wondered  what  all  this  would  come  to.  "  What 
is  the  use? — plenty  of  work  to  do  at  home,  where  it 
is  not  so  expensive."  But  the  greater  part  took  no 
interest. 

As  for  Annual  Meeting  its  record  is  unique.  In 
1876  Brother  Eby,  at  the  request  of  Northern  Illi- 
nois, asked  Annual  Meeting,  con- 
Help  Rejected  vened  in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  "  for 
approval  and  reflection  "  on  what  had 
been  done  in  the  special  District  Meeting  the  pre- 
ceding November.  Henry  Davy  was  Moderator. 
The  request  called  forth  a  heated  discussion.  The 
Moderator  and  a  few  others  urged  that  the  request 
be  withdrawn  and  this  was  done.  No  mention  of 
the  subject  is  found  in  the  Conference  Minutes. 

The   next   year,    1877,    the    Middle 
^Ts^*^^  District    of    Pennsylvania    interested 

itself  by  asking  Annual  Meeting  the 
following: 

This  District  Meeting  requests  Annual  Meeting  to  in- 
quire into  the  missionary  work,  now  begun  in  Denmark, 
and  if  it  thinks  advisable,  to  recommend  it  to  the  sym- 
pathy and  support  of  the  General  Brotherhood. 

57 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

The  Conference  considered  the  above  query  and 
on  May  22,  1877,  recommended  the  Danish  mission 
to  "  the  sympathy  and  support  of  the  General 
Brotherhood." 

Did  that  sympathy  and  support  come? 

In  Denmark  there  was  a  lone  brother  and  his 
sickly  wife  and  a  family  of  little  children.  He  was 
so  full  of  zeal  that  he  knew  no  bounds 
^  ^^  ^  save  suffering  more  than  he  and  his 

family  could  endure.  His  earnestness 
and  sincerity,  earlier,  drove  him  to  seek  for  a  peo- 
ple whose  pride  and  frequent  boasting  was  that  they 
had  Apostolic  faith  and  practice  from  the  beginning 
of  their  organization.  He  had  proved  his  sincerity 
to  a  whole  District  and  had  shown  his  worth.  In 
Denmark,  v/here  he  was  at  work  at  the  instance  of 
the  Brotherhood,  there  was  no  dead  pull  like  on 
some  mission  fields  where  the  worker  labored  from 
seven  to  fifteen  years  before  the  joy  of  the  first  con- 
vert was  experienced.  People  were  being  added  to 
the  church  every  year ;  tracts  were  printed  and  dis- 
tributed, followed  by  preaching  the  Word  with 
power.  The  growth  of  the  church  in  Denmark  was 
remarkably  encouraging,  considering  the  chance  of 
workers  and  the  field. 

But  sad  as  it  is  to  record,  there  was  bitter  opposi- 
tion and  serious  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  church  at 

home.  Some  of  the  reflections  and  in- 
Sad  Neglect     sinuations  which  actually  found  their 

way  into  print  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  seventies  are  better  forgotten  than  repro- 
duced here ;  yet  by  far  the  stronger  sentiment  of  op- 

58 


The  New   Element 

position  from  one  element  of  the  church  never  was 
permitted  to  live  in  cold  type.  Even  the  friends  of 
missions  had  not  learned  to  give  heartily  unto  the 
Lord  and  so  our  brother  and  his  family  suffered,  tho 
he  worked,  and  they  endured  unselfishly  for  the 
good  of  the  church. 

In  the  face  of  this  neglect  Brother  Hope  was  put 
to  serious  straits  at  times.    Let  him  speak: 

"  Some  may  think  we  have  received 
Hardships  much    money,    but   the    Lord    knows 

that  in  all  my  traveling  from  place  to 
place,  I  never  allowed  myself  to  spend  a  cent  for  a 
warm  meal,  and  my  feet  have  been  used  whenever 
there  has  been  a  possibility  to  walk.  I  have  slept 
many  a  night  on  the  floor,  and  sometimes  in  barns ; 
and  at  the  beginning  of  the  mission  frequently  used 
Jacob's  bed  and  pillow  in  the  field,  under  God's 
broad  firmament.  At  times  I  was  shown  every  at- 
tention and  was  kindly  cared  for,  being  literally 
buried  in  feather-beds,  while  at  other  times  the 
Lord  put  me  to  fasting  whole  days,  because  no  one 
gave  me  to  eat.  In  my  absence  some  rail  at  me  with 
desperation,  because  of  the  doctrine  I  teach,  but 
when  I  come  to  them  they  are  kind  and  respectful. 

"  My  dear  wife  has  borne  a  heavy  load  ever  since 
we  left  the  United  States.     Being  feeble  in  body, 

and  having:  the  care  of  four  children, 
ome     ot        whose  names  are  respectively  Anna, 

Johanna,  Elizabeth  and  Christene,  she 
has  even  more  to  endure  than  I.  I  am  scarcely  ever 
at  home,  and  when  I  am,  I  am  shut  up  in  my  room, 
writing,  or  talking  to  those  who  come  to  learn  the 

59 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

way  of  the  Lord  more  perfectly.  My  wife  and  I 
rarely  ever  get  an  hour  to  have  a  social  talk  to- 
gether, and  only  when  we  retire  to  rest  can  we  find 
time  to  converse  over  our  mission  work.  The  mid- 
night hour  finds  us  going  to  bed,  and  early  I  must 
arise  and  be  gone  to  tell  the  Old,  Old  Story.  People 
come  here  to  talk  about  this  *  better  way  '  and  if  I 
have  five  minutes  to  spare,  I  must  teach  them.  Now, 
if  any  one  thinks  this  is  a  life  of  ease,  let  him  sell 
his  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  lands,  and  come  here, 
and  try  this  labor  a  while.  He  will  soon  learn  that 
health  will  fail,  money  disappear,  and  patience  will 
be  sorely  tried." 

The  missionary  forces  of  the  Brotherhood  did  not 

Brotherhood's  ^^^^^  ^^^  Annual  Meeting  alone  dur- 
Duty  >"§■  these  trying  days  of  our  first  mis- 

sionary.   In  1878  another  query  came 
before  that  body : 

Whereas,  Annual  Meeting  has  heretofore  left  the  Dan- 
ish Mission  to  the  care  of  Northern  Illinois,  recommend- 
ing it  to  the  support  and  sympathy  of  the  entire  Brother- 
hood; and 

Whereas,  a  church  has  been  fully  organized  in  Den- 
mark, does  this  Annual  Meeting  consider  it  advisable  for 
that  church  to  remain  under  the  care  of  Northern  Illinois, 
or  does  it  properly  belong  to  the  direct  care  of  the  An- 
nual Meeting? 

Answer. — The  church  in  Denmark  shall  be  under  the 
care  of  Northern  Illinois,  but  it  is  the  duty  of  the  whole 
Brotherhood  to  help  to  defray  the  expenses,  that  the 
said  District  does  not  have  to  bear  more  than  its  part 
or  portion  of  the  expenses  that  must  be  met  and  pro- 
vided for. 

Thus  another  favorable  decision  went  upon  rec- 

60 


The  New  Element 

ord  and  was  sent  to  every  congregation  in  the 
Brotherhood.  But  the  support  continued  inade- 
quate and  our  workers  in  Denmark  were  greatly  dis- 
tressed. 

In  this  extremity  Northern  Illinois 
-    *     ^!^^  appealed  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of 

^P"""'""""""  1879  thus: 

Inasmuch  as  it  was  decided  by  last  Annual  Meeting 
that  the  expenses  of  the  Danish  Mission  shall  be  paid 
by  the  General  Brotherhood,  will  not  the  District  of 
Northern  Illinois  request  Annual  Meeting  of  1879  to  tell 
each  District  what  its  probable  portion  will  be? 

The  District  joined  in  the  petition  and  Conference 
called  upon  the  congregations  for  the  very  reason- 
able assistance  of  $2  from  "  each  church  in  the 
Brotherhood,  the  wealthier  churches  more  and  the 
poorer  ones  less,  to  make  up  said  amount,  .  .  . 
to  be  sent  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Northern  District 
of  Illinois,  C.  P.  Rowland."  At  the  end  of  the  year 
but  $624  had  been  donated  and  sent, — barely  a  half 
support !  Yet  there  was  plenty  and  to  spare  in  these 
congregations  whom  our  brother  and  his  family 
were  representing  as  ambassadors  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

In  spite  of  all  these  discouragements  and  lack  of 

funds.  Brother  Hope  continued  hopeful,  and  pushed 

_     .  .  the  work.     In  the  spring-  of  1879,  in 

A  Danish  ,      ^  ^  •     n  j 

Chu    h  Paoer  °^"^^  ^°  meet  more  economically  and 

effectually  the  demand  for  tracts,  and 
to  help  build  up  the  church  and  strengthen  and  unite 
the  believers.  Brother  Hope  started  a  little  monthly. 
The  first  issue  of  2,000  copies,  costing  $5,  was  given 

61 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

to  a  discussion  of  the  subject  of  infant  baptism.  The 
State  Church  baptizes  infants  and  it  was  one  of  the 
hardest  points  to  meet,  as  well  as  everywhere  pres- 
ent. Generations  had  been  reared  in  error  on  this 
point  and  there  was  much  prejudice  to  overcome. 
As  long  as  the  Httle  sheet  was  permitted  to  come 
forth,  it  did  great  good.  Brother  Hope  was  well 
able  to  edit  it,  and  the  copies  are  prized  by  those 
who  received  them,  even  to  this  day. 

To   summarize  what  had  been   ac- 
Summary  complished,  within  the  period  closing 

with  1880,  note  the  following: 

Church  in  Hjorring  organized  in  1876,  now  had 
one  bishop,  C.  C.  Eskildsen,  one  minister,  Jens  Jen- 
son,  two  deacons,  both  named  Niels  Christian  Niel- 
sen, and  a  membership  of  twenty-eight. 

In  1880  a  congregation  was  organized  at  Fred- 
erikshavn  with  two  ministers,  Soren  Christian  Niel- 
son  and  Jens  Christian  Sorenson ;  two  deacons, 
Christian  Christianson  and  Jorgen  Rasmussen;  and 
a  membership  of  thirty-one  in  all. 

In  Thy  there  were  one  minister  and  two  members. 
In  all  sixty-six  persons  were  baptized  by  the  church 
after  the  arrival  of  Brother  Hope. 


62 


IV. 

Clje  Struggle  Leaning  Op  to  tfte 
(Bflutml  Plan  of  1884 

How  earnestly  some  worked  for  more  effec- 
tual missionary  organization  and  how 
steadily  all  plans  seemed,  for  a  time,  to  fail ! 
One  of  the  most  striking  efforts,  perhaps,  was  a  well- 
digested  plan,  submitted  to  a  special  meeting  called 
in  the  Ogans  Creek  house  on  the  Saturday  preced- 
ing the  Annual  Meeting  of  1878,  held  at  North  Man- 
chester, Indiana.  There  was  a  good 
_      ^^  p.  representation  of  brethren  and  sisters 

from  over  the  Brotherhood,  for  the 
Ogans  Creek  congregation  is  just  south  of  North 
Manchester,  and  the  people  were  there  to  attend  the 
Conference.  The  whole  plan  was  read  and  reread, 
and  carefully  considered  section  by  section.  It  was 
unanimously  adopted  and  carried  to  the  Conference 
that  convened  the  following  week.  Evidently  there 
had  been  some  kind  of  an  organization  called  the 
"  Church  Extension  Union  "  which  this  was  to  suc- 
ceed. January  3,  1879,  the  first  issue  of  the  Pro- 
gressive Christian,  published  at  Berlin,  Pennsyl- 
vania, appeared  and  this  proposed  plan,  in  corrected 
form,  was  its  initial  article.    It  is  as  follows : 


63 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

BRETHREN'S  WORK  OF  EVANGELISM 
Preliminary   Statements 

1.  Hereafter  the  name  Church  Extension  Union  shall 
be  dropped,  and  the  service  shall  be  called  the  Brethren's 
Work  of  Evangelism, 

2.  In  the  Work  of  Evangelism  we  will  accept  the  pres- 
ent divisions  of  the  church  into  Districts,  as  made  by 
Annual  Meeting,  and  the  plan  shall  conform  to  any 
changes  made  in  said  District,  hereafter. 

3.  It  is  the  object  of  this  body  to  have  a  General  Or- 
ganization, District  Organizations,  and  Local  Organiza- 
tions. 

I.  General  Organization 
In  the  General  Organization  there  shall  be  a  Board  of 
Directors,  and  a  Board  of  Appointments   and   Disburse- 
ments. 

Board  of  Directors 

1.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  consist  of  a  member 
from  each  District,  who  may  be  a  delegate  to  the  Annual 
Meeting. 

2.  The  Directors  shall  be  elected  annually,  in  the  same 
manner  in  which  the  delegates  to  Annual  Meeting  are 
elected,  and  shall  hold  office  for  one  year, 

3.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  annually  on  the 
Saturday  preceding  the  Annual  Meeting  at  such  place 
as  may  be  agreed  upon. 

4.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  a  general  super- 
vision of  the  work,  and  shall  hold  the  permanent  officers 
responsible  for  a  faithful  performance  of  their   duties, 

5.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  make  an  annual  report 
of  the  condition  of  the  Work  of  Evangelism,  which  re- 
port shall  come  before  the  Annual  Meeting  for  its  ap- 
proval or  disapproval,  and  it  shall  be  presented  through 
the  Standing  Committee. 

Board  of  Appointments  and  Disbursements. 
1.  The     Board    of    Appointments    and    Disbursements 
shall  consist  of  five  members,  appointed  by  the  Directors, 

64 


Plate  2 


Opposite    64 


The   Churcliliouse   in   Iiimhanm,   Sweden. 

(Mrs.  Galen  B.  Royer  to  the  left;  A.  Anderson,  pastor,  in 
the  center;  Mrs.  Anderson  to  the  right  in  the  sliadow.  Photo 
taken  in   1910.) 


Where   C.   Hansen  Was  in  Prison  in  Hjorring',   Denmark, 
Because  He  Would  Not  Iieam  the  Art  of  War. 

(Photo    taken    in    1910.) 


Struggle  to  1884 

but  no  person  can  be  a  member  of  both  Boards  at  once, 
except  the  Moderator. 

2.  The  Board  of  Appointments  and  Disbursements  shall 
have  power  to  fill  mmisterial  and  other  vacancies,  as  it 
is  deemed  advisable  and  resources  permit.  It  shall  send 
out  only  such  men  as  ministers  and  evangelists  as  shall 
represent  the  teachings  of  the  Gospel  and  the  general 
order  of  the  Brotherhood.  It  shall  conform  to  the  es- 
tablished usage  of  the  church,  in  respect  to  going  into 
the  territory  of  any  organized  congregation.  It  shall  di- 
rect the  payment  of  necessary  expenses.  It  shall  have 
power  to  send  a  suitable  elder  or  minister  into  such  Dis- 
tricts as  have  no  District  Organization,  for  the  purpose 
of  effecting  such  an  organization,  if  possible.  Three  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

Permanent    Officers 

1.  The  Permanent  Officers  shall  be  a  Moderator,  a 
Treasurer,  and  a  Secretary,  to  be  elected  by  the  Directors, 
and  to  serve  one  year. 

2.  Moderator.  The  Moderator  shall,  when  necessary, 
call  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Appointments  and  Dis- 
bursements; shall  preside  at  all  the  meetings  and  attend 
to  the  usual  duties  of  the  office. 

3.  Treasurer.  The  Treasurer  shall  receipt  for  all 
moneys  received,  and  shall  pay  out  the  same  on  the  pres- 
entation of  orders  properly  signed  by  the  Moderator  and 
attested  by  the  Secretary;  shall  at  all  times  have  his 
books  open  to  inspection  and  shall  report  annually  to  the 
Board  of  Directors,  and  quarterly  to  the  church  papers 
for  publication. 

4.  Secretary.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of  all 
business  transactions  and  evangelical  work;  attend  to  the 
correspondence;  report  to  the  Board  of  Appointments 
and  Disbursements  the  work  requiring  attention;  report 
quarterly  to  the  church  papers  for  publication,  and  an- 
nually to  the  Board  of  Directors. 

65 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

District  Organization 

1.  Every  District  is  to  have  an  organization  for  the 
Work  of  Evangelism,  and  the  officers  shall  be  a  Moder- 
ator, Treasurer  and  Secretary,  who  shall  constitute  a 
Board  of  Evangelism  within  their  District. 

2.  This  Board  shall  be  elected  by  delegates  from  the 
several  churches  in  the  District  who  may  be  delegates  to 
the  District  Meeting. 

3.  The  Board  shall  select  evangelists  from  among  the 
ministers  nominated  by  the  several  churches,  appoint  their 
fields  of  service  and  provide  for  their  expenses;  and  calls 
for  evangelistic  work  may  be  made  to  the  Board  at  any 
time. 

4.  The  Board  shall  have  power  to  appoint  suitable 
ministers  to  visit  dormant  churches  to  awaken  an  in- 
terest and  encourage  them  to  take  hold  of  the  work. 

5.  Fifty  per  cent  of  the  funds,  raised  in  any  State  Dis- 
trict, may  be  used  by  the  Board  of  Evangelism  in  their 
work  within  the  District;  the  remaining  fifty  per  cent 
may  be  forwarded  quarterly  to  the  general  treasury. 

6.  The  district  meeting  of  the  Board  may  be  held  in 
conjunction  with  the  regular  District  Meeting,  and  the 
same  delegates  may  be  elected  to  both. 

7.  Each  District  shall  send  one  delegate  to  the  Annual 
Meeting  as  a  Director  in  the  Brethren's  Work  of  Evangel- 
ism, who  may  also  be  a  delegate  to  the  Annual  Meetmg. 

Local   Organizations 

1.  Local  organizations  are  organizations  in  the  several 
churches  of  the  Brotherhood. 

2.  Members  of  the  several  churches  shall  have  authority 
to  organize  and  appoint  local  solicitors,  who  shall  col- 
lect and  forward  contributions  to  the  District  Treasurer, 
after  the  payment  of  necessary  local  expenses. 

3.  Every  church  may  send  one  delegate  to  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  District  organization  in  the  interest  of 
the  service.  The  delegate  to  the  regular  District  Meet- 
ing may  be  this  delegate.       James   Quinter,   Moderator. 

Howard  Miller,  Secretary. 

66 


Struggle  to  1884 

The  foregoing  paper,  in  connection  with  protests 

against    the    "  Church    Extension     Union "     from 

Southern    Ohio,    Middle    Iowa,    and 

rowing  Northern  Illinois  Districts,  brot  forth 

Feeling  ,  ,  ,         .  .      ,      , . 

a    lengthy    and    spirited    discussion. 

Western  Pennsylvania  District  had  endorsed  the 
move  and  Middle  Pennsylvania  came  within  one 
vote  of  doing  likewise.  On  this  occasion  James 
Quinter  as  President  of  the  Union  addressed  the 
Conference,  in  part,  in  this  manner:  "There  has 
been  a  growing  feeling  in  our  Brotherhood,  for  the 
last  twenty-five  years,  that  we,  as  a  body  claiming 
to  be  the  Apostolic  church,  claiming  its  spirit,  claim- 
ing its  ecclesiastical  order,  claiming,  more  or  less, 
of  the  zeal  of  the  Apostolic  church, — that  we,  with 
these  claims,  have  not  been  making  the  efforts  that 
we  should  make  to  spread  that  primitive  Christian- 
ity to  which  we  hold,  and  which,  better  than  all, 
many  of  us,  I  hope,  experimentally  enjoy.  And  be- 
cause of  this  growing  feeling,  different  movements 
have  been  made,  to  permit  and  encourage  the  Breth- 
ren to  make  increased  efforts.  Last  winter, — an 
interest  having  become  especially  awakened  within 
the  last  year  or  so, — a  call  was  made  for  a  meeting, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  try  to  give  direction  to 
that  feeling  that  had  been  awakened, — direction  in 
a  manner  that  would  promote  the  extension  of  our 
doctrine  and  the  promulgation  of  it  more  widely  in 
the  world.  A  call  was  made  for  a  meeting,  and  some 
of  us  met  there.  The  meeting  was  not  large  .  .  . 
after  prayerful  consideration  we  organized  what 
has  been  called  the  Church  Extension  Union.    We 

(>7 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

did  not  feel  it  was  perfect;  we  rather  knew  it  was 
not  perfect.  .  .  .  We  called  a  meeting  for  last 
Saturday  near  this  place,  .  .  .  and  made  a  very 
material  amendment  to  the  organization  as  it  had 
been  formed  at  Meyersdale.  While  we  maintained 
the  great  principle  and  the  design,  we  modified  the 
workings  considerable.  .  .  .  We  are  called  up 
here  and  condemned ;  we  want  right  here  to  show 
that  there  is  no  ground  for  our  being  condemned  " 
(pages  52  and  53,  Annual  Report  for  1878). 

Howard  Miller,  Secretary  of  the  Union,  also  made 

an  address  that  reflects  the  sentiment  of  a  part  of 

the   Brotherhood,  as  well  as  setting 

„      .  forth  the  need  of  organizing  at  least 

Sentiment  ,  .        ,.,  ,      ^  ,       „°      ,    „ 

somethmg  like  what  the  Church  iix- 

tension  Union  contemplated.  "  My  dear  Brethren," 
said  Brother  Miller,  "what  have  we  done?  In  the 
convention  at  Meyersdale,  what  is  there  that  was 
done,  that  should  follow  us  here,  and  bring  down 
the  condemnation  of  the  church  upon  us?  I  found, 
when  I  entered  this  church  of  my  choice,  that  there 
were  no  facilities  for  reaching  the  outposts.  There 
are  counties  in  Pennsylvania  where  our  church  has 
never  been  heard  of;  and  I  hold  a  letter  in  my  hand 
from  the  State  of  Indiana,  that  tells  me  there  are 
twenty-eight  counties  where  they  know  nothing  at 
all  about  our  doctrines.  In  the  Southern  States,  go- 
ing south  of  North  Carolina,  where  there  are  two 
churches,  we  have  not  even  a  single  organization, 
and,  to  my  knowledge,  in  each  of  the  States  but  four 
or  five  members.  In  the  far  away  North  we  have 
not  a  single  organized  church ;  and  we  have  vast 

68 


Struggle  to  1884 

cities  in  the  United  States,  and  vast  countries  in 
other  lands,  where  they  do  not  know  that  such  a 
body,  as  that  which  we  represent,  exists.  I  know 
there  is  no  way  to  reach  this  multitude.  I  feel  sure 
that  if  this  glorious  faith  of  ours  were  fairly  present- 
ed, this  church  of  ours  might  grow  in  numbers 
and  power  until  we  would  take  front  rank  among 
the  ecclesiastical  bodies  of  the  age,  and  be  no  longer 
the  poor,  despised,  misunderstood  and  downtrodden 
people  that  we  are.  I  inserted  a  call  in  the  church 
papers  for  an  expression  from  those  who  felt  inter- 
ested in  this  subject;  and  in  response  to  that  call  I 
received  twenty-five  hundred  letters  from  my  breth- 
ren and  sisters  and  .  .  .  there  was  not  one  dis- 
senting voice.  .  .  .  Now,  in  regard  to  the  de- 
parture we  have  made.  What  do  we  propose  to  do? 
.  .  .  We  have  all  these  calls  filed  away  at  home, 
and  more  than  those,  amounting  to  no  less  than  one 
hundred.  Now,  brethren,  we  propose  to  spread  this 
faith  of  ours,  and  incorporated  in  the  constitution 
of  the  organization  the  provision  that  no  man 
should  go  forth  to  represent  our  doctrines,  that 
did  not  conform  in  practice  to  the  established 
order  of  the  Brotherhood.  It  is  not  an  innova- 
tion; it  is  not  true  that  its  founders  ever  in- 
Th    n\f{  tended  any.     If  there  is  any  innova- 

Pj^^Jj  tion  that  we  are  guilty  of,  it  is  in 

standing  in  the  old  path,  and  inquir- 
ing for  the  good  old  ways.  .  .  .  There  is  a  feel- 
ing in  the  Brotherhood  that  you  can  not  crush  out 
here.  It  is  the  love  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  .  .  . 
So  the  letters  come  from  all  over  the  country.    And 

69 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

what  shall  we  do?  Shall  we  write  to  these  men,  to 
whom  I  promised  a  minister,  that  the  church  stands 
as  a  stone  wall  between  them  and  their  desire?  In 
God's  name,  No!  Let  us  stand  up  to  it,  and  say, 
We  will  unite  our  scattered  forces  in  one  common 
cause  against  sin." 

The  proposed  plan  had  not  the  endorsement  of 
any  District  Meeting,  and  hence  it  did  not  receive 
the  approval  it  so  earnestly  and  enthusiastically 
sought.  Biut  sentiment  was  being  moulded  in  the 
right  direction. 

During  the  ensuing  year  at  least  one  of  the  pe- 
riodicals urged  the  churches  to  bring  queries  to  the 
next  Conference  urging  adoption  of  the 
Not  Approved  plan.  This  the  Elk  Lick  congregation 
of  Western  Pennsylvania  did,  but  An- 
nual Meeting,  for  some  reason,  "  deferred  "  action, 
and  mission  work  continued  at  a  standstill,  save  as 
localities  or  parts  of  the  Brotherhood  were  doing 
what  they  could.  At  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania, 
the  churches  round  about  had  an  enthusiastic  meet- 
ing under  the  proposed  plan  and  raised  over  $100. 

The  next  year  Western  Pennsylvania  called  up 

and  wished  to  "  protect  the  petition  "  of  the  year 

_  .  before,   "  urging   the   work   of   evan- 

Protect  the  ,.  •  i  .•  j    • 

p  ^  .  gelism    upon    said    meetmg,    and    m- 

structing  the  delegates  to  use  all  fair 
means  to  have  the  Annual  Meeting  accept  and  en- 
courage said  work."  In  reply  to  this  the  following 
resolution  was  passed : 

That  we  appoint  a  committee   of  five,  whose   duty  it 
shall  be  to  present  a  plan  that  will  harmonize  with  other 

70 


Struggle  to  1884 

plans  that  have  been  favored  by  Annual  Meeting  and  the 
one  now  in  operation  among  us;  but  Annual  Meeting 
shall  not  be  financially  responsible  for  any  plan. 

At  a  later  stage  of  the  meeting  the 
A   New   Plan    committee  appointed  reported  the  fol- 
lowing plan,  which  was  adopted : 

1.  We  recommend  this  Annual  Meeting  to  appoint 
five  brethren,  sound  in  the  faith  and  fully  alive  to  our 
missionary  interests,  to  superintend  the  domestic  and 
foreign  missionary  work  of  the   General  Brotherhood. 

2.  That  those  five  brethren  appoint  out  of  their  num- 
ber such  ofiicers  (Corresponding  Secretary,  Treasurer, 
etc.)  as  the  nature  of  the  work  requires. 

3.  That  the  brethren  be  instructed  to  interfere  in  no 
way  with  any  present  individual  church  or  District  mis- 
sionary efforts  among  our  Brethren. 

4.  That  Annual  Meeting  advise  that  any  domestic  or 
foieign  mission  work  of  a  general  nature,  like  the  Danish 
Mission,  now  under  the  care  of  District  Council,  be  com- 
mitted to  the  supervision  of  this  Board. 

5.  That  this  meeting  recommend  that  the  fund  now  in 
the  hands  of  the  "Brethren's  Work  of  Evangelism"  be 
committed  to  the  treasury  of  the  Board  of  the  General 
Conference. 

6.  That  this  Board  be  instructed  to  proceed  no  further 
in  its  appointments,  etc.,  than  the  means  in  its  treasury 
will  justify. 

7.  That  the  officers  of  this  Board  be  required  to  make 
an  official  report  of  their  work,  its  condition,  operation 
and  wants,  to  each  session  of  our  General  Conference,  and 
that  said  report  go  into  our  regular  Minutes. 

8.  That  every  church  in  the  Brotherhood  be  requested 
to  appoint  a  solicitor  in  its  own  congregation,  to  raise 
funds  for  this  work  and  forward  the  same  to  the  Treas- 
urer of  this  Mission  Board,  at  least  every  six  months. 

9.  That  this  Board  be  instructed  to  proceed  to  its  work 
at  once  as  opportunity  permits. 

71 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

10.  That  Standing  Committee  of  Annual  Meeting  be 
required  to  fill  any  vacancy  that  may  occur  in  the  Board 
from  time  to  time  and  that  its  members  be  elected  every 
four  years. 

Committee  J.  W.  Stein,  John  Metzger,  Hiel  Hamilton, 
J.  D,  Livengood,  J.  W.  Fitzgerald. 

Immediately  upon  the  adoption  of 
Danish  j-j^g  above  paper  the  Conference  trans- 

Mission  fg^^g^  ^^^  Danish  Mission  to  the  Do- 

Transferred  .  ,    T^  TVT-      •  T,  J 

mestic  and  Foreign  Mission  Board. 

The  committee   elected,   as   provided  for  in  the 

above,  with  its  organization,  was  as 

^  ®     .  follows  :  E.  Eby,  Lena,  Illinois,  Presi- 

Committee  ,     ,       o      t-      t.  t>»      i  •  i 

dent;     S.    T.     Bosserman,    Dunkirk, 

Ohio,  Secretary;  J.  Quinter,  Huntingdon,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Treasurer;  Joseph  Leedy,  of  Indiana;  D.  E. 
Brubaker,  of  Iowa. 

"A  working  decision,"  as  some  writers  had  been 
pleading  for,  had  been  passed  by  the 
DeSn  "^  Conference.  It  had  in  it  all  that  was 
needful  to  go  forward  with  leaps  and 
bounds,  even  if  it  was  not  as  complete  as  the  Ogans 
Creek  plan.  Did  it  work?  Did  missions  go  for- 
ward? 

At  this   point  it  is   interesting  to 
Viewf ""^  catch  the  view  of   different  individ- 

uals, as  expressed  thru  the  different 
periodicals*  owned  and  published  by  the  Brethren. 


♦(These  were  the  days  of  many  papers  published  in  the 
Interest  of  the  church.  In  1879  there  were  eleven,  as  fol- 
lows: The  Primitive  Christian,  weekly,  and  the  Young  Dis- 
ciple, weekly,  published  by  Quinter  and  Brumbaugh  Brothers, 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania;  Brethren  at  Work,  weekly,  and 
Children  at  Work,  monthly,  J.  H.  Moore  and  M.  M.  Eshelman, 
Lanark,    Illinois;    The    Children's    Paper,    monthly,    Henry    J. 

72 


Struggle  to  1884 

In  the  January  9,  1879,  issue  of  Brethren  at  IVork^ 
Brother  S.  Z.  Sharp  thus  gives  his  survey  of  the 

sentiment  in  the  Brotherhood :  "Look- 
Missions°'^         ing  over  the  entire  Brotherhood,  one 

would  hardly  discover  a  single  broth- 
er or  sister  who  would  not  like  to  see  more  souls 
brot  to  Christ  and  the  borders  of  Zion  extended. 
The  church,  as  a  body,  has  given  its  approval,  and 
recommends  the  support  of  foreign  missions  as  well 
as  the  missionary  efforts  in  the  several  church  Dis- 
tricts at  home.  The  general  sentiment,  prevailing 
thruout  the  church  in  favor  of  missionary  work, 
may  be  judged  by  the  expressions  from  all  parts, 
through  our  church  papers,  and  the  organized  ef- 
forts in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kan- 
sas, and  Nebraska,  and  perhaps  in  other  States." 
He  then  declares  that  "the  Brotherhood  is  able  to 
raise  $100,000  a  year  and  not  feel  it."  But  he  la- 
ments that  there  is  "  too  little  self-sacrificing  spirit 
among  us, — too  many  who  are  capable  of  doing  mis- 
sionary work  love  the  comforts  of  home.  .  .  . 
Others,  possessed  of  their  thousands  of  dollars,  act 
as  though  they  did  not  owe  the  Lord  a  cent." 

A.  J.  Hixon  would  reinforce  the  preceding  and  ar- 
gues that  the  "  obligation  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  all 


Kurtz,  Dayton,  Ohio;  The  Vindicator,  monthly,  Samuel  Kln- 
sey,  Dayton,  Ohio;  The  Brethren's  Advocate,  weekly,  Daniel 
H.  Fahrney,  Waynesboro,  Pennsylvania;  The  Gospel  Preacher, 
weekly,  S.  H.  Bashor  and  S.  Z.  Sharp,  Ashland,  Ohio:  The 
Deacon,  monthly,  P.  H.  Beaver,  Montandon,  Pennsylvania; 
The  Progressive  Christian,  weekly,  H.  R.  Holsinger  and  J. 
W.  Beer,  Berlin,  Pennsylvania;  The  Home  Mirror,  monthly, 
J.  S.  Plory,  Longmont,  Colorado.  It  was  a  day  when  the 
church  owned  no  poabllcation,  and  when  the  profits,  If  there 
were  any,  went  Into  individual  pockets.) 

73 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

the  world  rests  upon  the  churches,"  and  not  on  the 

ministers  alone.    "The  ministry  is  merely  an  office  in 

the  church,  subject  to  the  church,  and 

^,       ,  under  the  direction  of  the  church." — 

Brethren  at  Work,  February  ^,  1880. 

There  can  be  no  misunderstanding  in  L.  W.  Teet- 

.    .  er's    view    of    obligation    when    he 

e.        c^  writes :    "  What  shall  we  do  that  we 

Same  Stress  .^    ,    .        ,         .   ,         , 

Hq^i  may   stand  justified   m  the   sight  of 

God?  The  great  commission  speaks 
yet  with  the  same  stress,  as  it  did  when  it  fell  from 
the  lips  of  Omnipotent  authority,  '  Go  ye  into  all 
the  world.' " — Primitive  Christian,  page  118,  1880. 
David  F.  Eby  admitted:  "The  Brethren  know 
that  it  is  a  command  of  God,  and  a  duty  enjoined 
upon  the  church,  .  .  .  that  the 
Put  Missions  followers  of  Christ  were  to  engage  in 
in  ai  y  s  missionary  work.  .  .  .  The  dif- 
ference in  opinion  is  on  the  plan  of 
raising  the  money  and  in  the  ways  of  spending  it." 
He  favored  giving  the  "  financial  part  of  the  mis- 
sionary work  into  the  hands  of  the  laity,"  and  he 
plead  earnestly  for  this  on  the  grounds  that  "noth- 
ing is  trusted  in  their  care,  consequently  they  be- 
come inactive." — Brethren  at  Work,  1880. 

One  has  more  than  usual  interest  in  that  splendid 
"  defender  of  the  faith  "  of  the  Brethren,  in  what  he 
would  write.    R.  H.  Miller  was  "west- 
y      ,  ern    editor"    of   the   Primitive    Chris- 

tian,   and   in    discussing   the  mission- 
ary question,  relating  to  the  West,  wrote  as  fol- 

74 


Struggle  to  1884 

lows :  "  First,  the  scattered  condition  of  our  Breth- 
ren over  a  large  territory  of  the  West;  the  minis- 
terial help  is  not  well  divided  or  sufficient,  which 
makes  many  calls  for  preaching  that  can  not  be 
filled.  Second,  the  efforts  of  the  ministry  to  convert 
sinners,  and  spread  the  Gospel  in  its  purity,  have 
been  very  successful."  In  another  editorial  the 
same  writer  declares  that  "to  come  and  help  us  is 
the  theme  of  many  earnest  letters." — Primitive  Chris- 
tian, page  ij,  1880. 

John  Forney,  in  his  characteristic  and  very  prac- 
tical way  observes  that  "  there  is  much  said  and 
I,  c  •  J         written  and  too  little  done."    He  rec- 

T  '^^1  -Tk  '  ommended  that  each  minister  spend 
Little  Done  .•         r  t.  •   . 

his  spare  time  from  home  appoint- 
ments in  close-by,  new  points  and  follow  the  calls, 
for  they  will  come  and  a  great  work  be  done. — 
Brethren  at  Work,  January,  1880. 

As  a  clear,  forcible  writer,  correctly  analyzing  a 
situation,  D.  C.  Moomaw  was  one  above  the  aver- 

age  in  ability.  His  insight  into  the 
J..  . ,   ,  situation  enabled  him  to  express  very 

accurately  the  real  situation:  "A 
small  number  of  our  Brethren  do  not  approve  of 
contributing  anything  to  the  sustentation  of  the 
missions.  Another  small  number  think  that  the 
ministry  should  not  pursue  any  secular  occupation 
but  should  receive  their  entire  support  from  the 
church.  The  body  of  the  church  think  that  inci- 
dental expenses  of  the  ministers  and  their  families 
should  be  borne  by  the  churches  while  in  actual 
service,  but  when  off  regular  duty  they  should  pur- 

75 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

sue  some  secular  business  in  order  to  support  them- 
selves."— Primitive  Christian,  page  8,  1880. 

As  editor  and  member  of  the  newly-elected  Mis- 
sion Board,  James  Quinter  thus  wrote:   "Knowing 
as  we  do  that  there  is  a  widespread 

_  ^^.  ®  feeling  in  our  Brotherhood,  in  regard 

Position  .     ,1,        •     •  1         J  1  • 

Appreciated  missionary  work,  and  knowing 

also,  that  the  Board,  appointed  by 
the  Annual  Meeting,  will  be  looked  to  as  promoting 
this  work,  we  think  we  appreciate  our  position, 
.  .  .  and  we  will  try  to  do  the  work  that  prop- 
erly belongs  to  us." — Primitive  Christian,  page  203, 
j88o. 

In  the  same  issue  Enoch  Eby,  Chairman  of  the 

Board,  speaks :  "  Since  1853  the  question  of  greater 

_  ^  and  more  general  effort  in  the  Broth- 

Dormant  1        1     r         1  ,      ,    ,       ^ 

System  erhood,  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel, 

Worthless  has  been  before  our  Conference  some 
twelve  different  times;  and  every 
time  received  its  approval  and  hearty  encourage- 
ment, and  while,  in  the  meantime,  there  was  a 
steady  growth  in  the  interests  of  the  missionary 
cause  among  us,  no  very  definite  or  extensive  meas- 
ure has  ever  been  adopted  till  our  late  Annual 
Meeting.  Districts  have  been  recommended  to  la- 
bor in  that  direction,  and  many  of  them  have  done 
well,  and  we  are  glad  to  notice  a  constant  growth 
in  the  interests  of  missionary  work;  and  especially 
were  we  pleased  to  see  our  late  Annual  Meeting, 
for  the  first  time,  take  hold  of  the  reins  in  good  ear- 
nest, and  adopt  a  system  which,  if  carried  out,  and 
worked  up  with  the  enthusiasm  that  the  cause  de- 

76 


Struggle  to  1884 

mands,  and  which  becometh  the  children  of  God 
who  have  the  salvation  of  the  world  committed 
unto  them,  will  certainly  work  well  and  accomplish 
much  good.  But  the  best  system  in  the  world  will 
amount  to  nothing  if  left  dormant." — Primitive  Chris- 
tian, page  205,  1880. 

Landon  West  first  presses  that  "  the  church  has 
in  no  way  injured  herself  in  the  work  already  done 

or  that  now  is  being  done."  Then  he 
Hints  at  reflects  the  criticism  in  his  defense  of 

what  has  been  done :  "  The  Danish 
Mission  is  said  to  be  too  far  away,  while  they  say 
that  there  are  thousands  starving  for  the  Bread  of 
Life  all  around  us."  Further,  "  It  is  costing  a  good 
deal,  while  the  work  might  be  done  here  without 
cost, — ^that  souls  in  Denmark  are  not  worth  more 
than  souls  here."  He  refers  to  an  organized  effort 
for  "  city  missions  "  and  favors  it  because  "  what- 
ever is  introduced  into  the  cities,  very  soon  is  spread 
to  the  country ;  besides,  piety  flourished  in  cities 
long  ago,  and  it  will  yet." — Brethren  at  Work,  March 
23,  1880. 

With  missionary  ideals  crystallized  thru  actual 
contact  with  the  needs  of  the  highways  and  hedges, 

Solomon  Bucklew  cries  out:  "It 
Heartache         makes    my   heart   ache   when    I    see 

Brethren  spend  their  money  for  use- 
less things,  and  when  asked  for  a  half  dollar  to  help 
send  the  Bread  of  Life  to  starving  souls,  they  have 
nothing  to  spare." — Primitive  Christian,  page  58, 
1880. 
Bishop  C.  G.  Lint,  a  leader  in  Somerset  County, 

77 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Pennsylvania,  where  mission  work  had  some  of  its 

strongest  advocates,  raises  the  ques- 
Not  Ready       tion:    "Are  w^e  ready  for  missionary 

work?"  He  criticises  the  lack  of 
unity  of  faith  in  the  Brotherhood,  and  declares  that 
"if  all  the  papers  now  published  (see  footnote  on 
page  72)  by  the  Brethren  would  be  sent  into  the 
same  community,  instead  of  conversions  there 
would  be  confusion." — Brethren  at  Work,  August  24, 
1880. 

Tho   defending   his   paper   in    1877,   by   declaring 
it  to  be  "  a  friend  to  and  sympathizer  with  every 

lawful  effort,  put  forth  in  the  promul- 
P     ,  gation  of  the  Truth,  tho  we  may  at 

times  be  a  little  more  cautious  about 
what  we  take  hold  of  than  some  think  we  ought  to 
be,"  J.  H.  Moore  now  argues  with  might  and  main 
for  going  ahead :  "  Yes,"  says  he,  "  the  church  of 
Jesus  Christ  has  always  been  ready  to  preach  the 
Gospel.  We  say  we  are  ready  for  missionary  work 
because  the  Master  says  '  Go '  and  we  are  in  favor 
of  going  till  the  Book  says,  Stop.  .  .  .  My  im- 
pression is  that  nothing  would  please  the  devil  bet- 
ter than  to  get  our  people  to  stop  spreading  the 
Truth.  He  does  not  believe  in  the  '  go '  but  would 
prefer  the  '  stop.'  .  .  .  To  stop  missionary  work 
is  to  invite  idleness,  and  idleness  is  the  devil's  work- 
shop. If  the  church  wants  to  be  kept  pure  we  must 
put  her  to  work.  .  .  .  Care  should  be  taken  re- 
garding the  kind  of  men  sent  out  in  missionary 
fields.  .  .  .  We  are  glad  for  the  missionary  step 
taken  by  our  late  Annual  Meeting,  believing  it  to 

78 


Struggle  to  1884 

have  been  just  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time." — 
Brethren  at  Work,  September  14,  1880. 

Despairing  of  the  outlook  of  missions,  as  being 
agitated,  and  intimating  that  those  opposed  to  mis- 
sions can  not  be  heard,  Silas  Thomas, 
Missions  a        ^f  Philadelphia,  speaks  thus :    "  The 

Precursor  or  a.     j-  ^i.  •    j-     1 

p  ..  most  of  the  periodicals  among  us  are 

persistent  in  their  praise  of  the  new 
missionary  scheme,  and  in  their  calls  upon  the 
members  to  further  it  with  their  money,  while  they 
refuse,  point  blank,  to  publish  anything  in  opposi- 
tion to  it  or  commendatory  of  the  pure  old  apostolic 
mode  of  evangelizing  thru  which  the  Brotherhood 
has  attained  her  present  state  of  prosperity.  '  Com- 
ing events  cast  their  shadows  before  them,'  and  this 
work  of  the  papers  is  a  sure  precursor  of  what  will 
happen  when  the  missionaries  of  the  new  order  have 
taken  the  field." — Vindicator,  page  228,  1880. 

"A.  B."  would  ask,  "  What  right  or  authority  has 

this  or  any  other  writer  to  say  that  the  Savior  de- 

.  mands    people    to    commit    property 

,,.    .  into  the  hands  of  men  to  carry  into 

Missions  „  ,    .  .  ■' 

Destructive       eiiect  their  expensive  and  ambitious 

plans.  Christ  directed  the  young  man 
to  sell  his  property  and  give  to  the  poor  and  the 
apostles  made  collections  in  churches  for  the  poor 
saints  at  Jerusalem ;  but  nowhere,  in  all  the  New 
Testament,  can  an  instance  be  produced  that  either 
Christ  or  the  apostles  required  people  to  give  their 
money,  or  make  collections  to  assist  in  the  promul- 
gation of  the  Gospel.  When  Jesus  Christ  sent  forth 
his  disciples  to  preach,  he  furnished  them  with  no 

79 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

money,  nor  did  he  ever  represent  it  as  necessary  to 
promote  the  kingdom  of  grace  and  righteousness  on 
the  earth.  Whenever  money  is  made  an  auxiliary 
for  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom, it  becomes  emphatically  the  root  of  evil  and 
the  destruction  of  true  piety,  and  of  every  other 
Christian  grace  in  the  church,  as  experience  has 
abundantly  shown." — Vindicator,  page  2^4,  1880. 

Finally,  amidst  all  the  diversity  of  opinion  ex- 
pressed   and    suppressed,    the    appointed    Mission 
Board   found   it   convenient  to  meet 

por    o  December  9  of  the  same  year  it  was 

First   Board  ,         ,,,,,/. 

Meeting  appomted,  and  the  followmg  is  a  part 

of  the  report,  given  as  editorial  by 
Brother  Quinter :  "All  the  members  of  the  Mission- 
ary Board  except  Brother  Brubaker,  of  Iowa,  being 
present  at  the  council  meeting  in  the  Miami  Valley, 
a  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  on  the  night  of 
December  9,  at  the  house  of  Brother  Oberholtzer, 
of  Brookville,  Ohio.  The  meeting  was  harmonious 
and  pleasant.  The  sentiment  was  unanimous  that, 
inasmuch  as  the  Brethren  have  shown  a  very  com- 
mendable zeal  and  liberality  in  regard  to  the  mis- 
sion work,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  the  work 
should  be  pushed  and  extended  as  the  providence  of 
the  Lord  may  seem  to  direct,  and  as  openings  may 
occur.  Several  calls  were  before  the  Board  and 
steps  were  taken  to  respond  to  these  calls  favorably. 
There  v^as  one  from  Canada,  one  from  Arkansas 
and  one  from  Minnesota.  There  seem  to  be  other 
places  opening,  and  it  is  the  wish  of  the  Board  that 
the  Brethren,  in  the  different  parts  of  the  Brother- 

80 


Struggle  to  1884 

hood,  knowing  of  any  places  where  there  is  an  open- 
ing for  the  presentation  of  the  Truth  as  held  by  our 
Fraternity,  present  such  places  to  the  Board,  with 
whatever  information  they  may  have  in  regard  to 
such  places,  and  the  Board  will  gladly  encourage 
missionary  labors  wherever  there  seems  to  be  a 
field  ripening  for  the  harvest." — Primitive  Christian, 
1880. 

No  wonder,  in  the  light  of  the  foregoing,  that  at 
Annual  Meeting  of  1881,  held  at  Ash- 

o  m  u  land,  Ohio,  a  query  should  appear  in 
"  regard  to  the  missionary  plan,  with 
its  board  of  directors,"  etc.,  declaring  "  we  are  not  in 
full  harmony  "  and  therefore  offer  the  following : 

We  ask  Annual  Meeting  of  1881,  through  District  Meet- 
ing to  recall  said  decision  of  last  year  in  which  we  fear 
a  paid  ministry  is  encouraged,  and  urge  it  earnestly  upon 
the  Brotherhood  to  be  more  actively  engaged  in  spread- 
ing the  truth  amongst  us  and  to  all  as  much  as  can  be 
done,  but  in  a  more  simple  manner  after  the  pattern  and 
advice  of  the  church  as  given  us  heretofore. 

How  was  the  work  progressing  in  Denmark  dur- 
ing these  times  of  no  unity  on  the  home  base?  But 
two  extracts  will  be  given  and,  indeed,  they  are 
enough : 

"  I  often  think  of  the  cause  in  Denmark,"  writes 

Brother  E.  Eby,  "  and  view  its  success  with  pleas- 

^  ,  ure.     .     .     .     On  the  other  hand,  my 

Borrow  from      .„  .,  ,  .  ^  .   / 

a  Straneer         P"low  could  bear  witness  to  my  sighs 

and  groans,  and  even  tears,  when  I 
think  that  we  have  a  brother  there  with  no  extraor- 
dinary constitution,  and  a  weakly  wife  and  three 
children  to  support,  and  no  work  to  perform  even  if 

81 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

they  had  time  and  ability  to  perform  it.  And  after 
sacrificing  all  his  time,  talent  and  strength,  as  a 
servant  of  the  church,  and  not  able  to  meet  one-half 
the  demand  for  preaching,  that  he  must  often  be 
without  a  cent  at  his  command  to  buy  food  for  his 
children,  forced  as  a  stranger  to  borrow  money,  to 
pay  back  as  soon  as  it  comes  from  here ;  and  our  de- 
lay often  wearing  the  patience  of  those  from  whom 
he  has  borrowed ;  and  then,  when  it  does  come,  he 
may  be  forced  to  use  it  for  his  own  support.  These 
are  facts,  for  we  were  forced  to  experience  them 
more  or  less  while  we  were  there." — Primitive  Chris- 
tian. 

Indeed,  more  than  a  year  after  the  passage  of  a 
"  working  decision,"  Brother  Hope  must  write,  in 

an  open  letter,  a  sad  picture  of  penury 
Dark  Picture    to   Brother  Harley,  of  Pennsylvania, 

while  acknowledging  a  direct  gift  for 
the  work.  "  Please  accept  thanks,"  says  Brother 
Hope.  "  I  am  glad  that  you  have  it  good  in  Amer- 
ica ;  glad  you  have  enough  to  eat,  and  enough  to 
put  on  your  bodies  to  keep  you  warm.  I  am  glad, 
too,  that  you  have  carriages  and  railroads  to  take 
you  wherever  you  want  to  go.  Surely,  it  is  all  good. 
I  do  not  think  our  dear  Heavenly  Father  wants  his 
children  to  freeze  or  starve,  or  his  poor  ministers  to 
suffer  for  these  things.  Neither  does  he  want  them 
to  wear  themselves  out,  so  that,  in  a  few  years,  they 
are  unable  to  attend  to  their  duties  and  to  support 
their  families.  Oh,  that  those  blessed  with  this 
world's  goods  would  help,  not  only  us,  but  also  the 
many  poor   ministering  brethren   in   America   and 

82 


Struggle  to  1884 

Denmark !  As  a  missionary,  the  church  dealt  fairly 
with  me.  Our  hardships  have  mostly  been  caused 
by  going  farther  than  our  means  would  allow, 
and  by  drafts  going  wrong.  If  we  have  suf- 
fered for  clothes  and  food,  as  we  often  have,  it  has 
not  been  so  much  the  fault  of  the  church  as  it  has 
been  because  we  would  rather  suffer  than  see  the 
cause  suffer.  .  .  .  You  will  please  excuse  me 
for  taking  some  of  your  gifts  and  putting  some  new 
clothes  on  one  of  our  poor  ministers,  who  had  only 
one  suit  of  clothes.  He  has  been  wearing  some  that 
were  more  than  half  worn  out.  He  is  not  properly 
clad,  and  can  not  afford  to  get  any 

-,.     ,.  new  clothes.     I  think  it  more  Christ- 

Pleading  ,.,  ,    ,  ,       , 

like  to  help  such,  than  for  sisters  to 
wear  hats,  ribbons,  or  fine  and  costly  clothing.  I 
think  if  our  fashionable  members  could  see  our  poor 
ministers,  they  would  feel  ashamed  and  repent.  I 
think  if  they  could  see  our  poor,  having  just  one 
room,  with  a  clay  floor,  to  live  in,  a  rough,  white 
lumber  box  for  a  bedstead,  a  rough  table,  and  a 
bench  or  some  two-legged  stools  to  sit  on ;  if  they 
had  to  sit  at  their  tables  with  a  little  dry,  hard,  black 
bread,  a  little  American  lard,  some  milk  at  best,  or  a 
little  water,  and  then  hear  them  gratefully  offer 
their  fervent  prayers  to  God  for  his  blessings,  they 
would  feel  it  their  duty  to  help  them,  rather  than  put 
finery  on  their  dying  bodies.  Oh,  how  often  I  have 
gone  up  on  a  hill  and,  looking  over  our  people's 
houses  for  miles  around,  wept  like  a  child  in  their 
behalf.  Dear  Brethren,  our  sufferings  are  nothing, 
compared  with  theirs,  as  far  as  food  is  concerned." 
— Primitive  Christian,  page  280,  188 1. 

83 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Hardships  did  not  keep  Brother  Hope  from  look- 
ing after   the   welfare   of   the   church   from   every 

angle.  The  question  of  title  to  prep- 
py *   °  erty,  which  was  slowly  being  erected 

by  donations  from  America,  was  dis- 
posed of  in  this  wise  manner:  "We  consulted  in 
regard  to  the  building  and  title  of  the  meetinghouse. 
With  common  consent  it  was  advised  that  the  prop- 
erty be  protected  from  personal  assault  or  from 
falling  into  the  hands  of  dissenting  parties.  This  is 
done  by  having  the  deed  furnished  with  the  name 
of  the  American  Fraternity,  who  can  sell  or  dispose 
of  it  through  their  missionary,  when  he  is  furnished 
proper  credentials  through  the  United  States  am- 
bassador in  Copenhagen.  Then,  too,  the  property 
is  protected  by  the  American  Government.  Should 
persecution  arise,  or  should  a  change  ever  be  de- 
sired, all  we  need  to  do  is  to  give  some  one  else  the 
power  to  act  in  the  case." — Primitive  Christian,  page 
77,  1882. 

In  spite  of  the  remarkable  success  in  Denmark, 
compared  to  the  spare  support,  the  cry  of  suffering 

and  want  did  not  move  the  hearts  of 

Paid  Min-  •  n  •  u 

„        -      some  smcere,  well-meanmg  members, 
istry  Feared  ,       ,  '  .       .        ,       ,  ., 

who  feared  conscientiously  the  evils 

of  a  salaried  ministry  and  felt  sure  that  such  mis- 
sions could  not  be  other  than  the  opening  wedge  to 
the  flood  of  corruption  that  follows  the  "  paid  min- 
istry." It  is  plainly  seen  in  the  following  query  to 
Annual  Meeting  of  1882,  and  the  request  was  grant- 
ed, too : 

Whereas  there  is  a  tendency,  in  places  in  our  Brother- 
hood, toward  a  salaried  ministry,  will  this  District  Meet- 

84 


Struggle  to  1884 

ing  ask  Annual  Meeting  that  there  be  no  specified  sum 
per  day,  week,  month  or  year  paid  to  ministers  on  mis- 
sions, or  any  other  work;  but  the  Mission  Board  or  Com- 
mittee, having  control  of  funds,  may  donate  to  ministers 
such  sums  as,  in  their  judgment,  their  circumstances  re- 
quire? 

James  Quinter  was  a  man  of  a  high,  spiritual 

type,  a  large  vision,  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Spirit, 

,3,   self-sacrificing  man,  whose  labors 

H  "li  t  d  ^°^  *^^  church  will  be  better  appre- 
ciated as  his  life  recedes  into  the  past. 
His  patient  efforts  among  a  people,  slow  to  learn 
the  lessons  of  life  and  salvation,  gave  him  a  poise 
only  equaled  by  the  noble  spirit  within  him.  But 
his  heart  is  grieved  over  the  situation  and  his  pen 
speaks :  "  The  fact  is  the  Board  has  been  discour- 
aged under  existing  circumstances.  We  have  felt 
but  little  encouragement  to  labor  or  to  have  others 
labor  to  extend  the  borders  of  Zion  while  the  inter- 
nal state  of  the  church  is  what  it  is.  We  feel 
grieved  and  humiliated  to  think  we  would  permit 
the  enemy  to  get  such  advantage  of  us  as  has  in- 
terfered so  much  with  our  usefulness." — Primitive 
Christian,  page  280,  1882. 

May  25,  1882,  all  the  members  be- 
Report  of  .  \    ^1      f  11       • 

Mission  Board  '"§^  Present,  the  followmg  report  was 
1882  heard  and  later  submitted  to  the  An- 

nual Meeting: 
From  Evangelists: 

John  Wise:  In  Canada,  40  days;  Pennsylvania,  16;  Mis- 
souri, 55;  Southern  Illinois,  54.  Total,  165  days,  during 
which  time  he  conducted  206  meetings  and  had  18  ac- 
cessions. He  traveled  5,365  miles  at  an  expense  of  $126.03. 
Total  allowance  for  expense  and  time,  $350. 

85 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

'^ — 

<,  ...    ^Jl^t.^.,^  (^t-^L   OiL^^C^  iv^  .J^^n-^^ ^     ^^-"^ 

„  -,.  ^</^^^./,  ^J.  /i,    i-^. 

/,       //  ^-^^  ri-^<^  ^3^^^  ^.  /^        /^   ^^ 

/<       ft  ^u^  c^-^a.^^  /^"<^iL.*w>^  ^/t/         ^  v6;«i-^4-«^       ^t  -^ 

'it     //&    0^vt.*t£a.  C^^ ,   <^  ^         /i^  /TV 

J 

Fac  simile  of  first^page  of  J.  Quinter's  cash  book,  showing 
first  mission  receipts  received  by  the  General  Mission  Board 
in  1880. 

86 


Struggle  to  1884 

D.  M.  Miller  in  Minnesota,  4  accessions. 

E.  Eby  and  J.  W.  Trostle,  one  week  in  Minnesota. 
J.  W.  Wilt,  in  Clearfield  County,  Pa.,  4  accessions. 
Jas.  R.  Gish,  about  three  months  in  Southern  Missouri 

and  Arkansas. 

Financial 

Total  receipts  for  Domestic  Missions  for 
the  two  years,   ...   $960.96 

Expenditures: 
To  Elder  J.  Wise,  time  and  expenses,  ..$350.00 
To  Elder  D.  M.  Miller,  expenses  only,  . .  33.36 
To  Elder  J.  W.  Wilt,  expenses  only,  ..  20.00 
To  Elder  J.  W.  Trostle,  expenses  only,  20.00 
To  Elder  Enoch  Eby,  expenses  only,   . .     10.00 

Expenses  of  Board,    47.00 

For  tracts  sent  out  by  H.  R.  Holsinger,      2.15 
Expenses  for  postal  cards,  stamps,  etc.,      5.00 

To  Elder  Jas.  R.  Gish,   

To  Elder  J.  W.  Beer,   $487.51 

Balance  on  hand,    $473.45 

Danish  Mission 
Receipts: 

For  two  years,  closing-  to  date,   $1,800.00 

For    Brother    Hope's    family   and    the   poor    in 
Denmark,    182.88 


$1,982.88 
Expenditures: 

For  Brother  Hope  and  family,  the  poor  in  Den- 
mark and  the  spread  of  the  Gospel, 1,900.00 


Balance  on  hand $     82.88 

Three  requests  from  Brother  Hope,  and  endorsed 
by  the  Board,  were  presented  to  the  Conference  and 
it  is  presumed  they  were  granted. 

87 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

1.  Permiting  Brother  Hope  to  rent  a  hall  for  preaching. 

2.  An  appropriation  to  continue  the  publishing  of  the 
Danish  paper. 

3.  For  a  continuance  of  funds  for  his  colaborers,  for 
their  sustenance  and  encouragement  in  the  cause  in  Den- 
mark. 

The  period  covered  by  this  chapter  was  a  stormy 

one.     Its  pages,  in  many  instances,  are  scarred  by 

unkind    insinuations,    bitter    attacks 

-  1,.  ^"^^  and  replies,  severe  and  unbrotherly 
of  Division  .  .  .  ,       .      ...      ,       ij 

criticism,  much  of  which  should  not 

have  found  its  way  into  print, — much  less  in  the 
hearts  of  our  Brethren, — and  would  not,  had  it  not 
been  that  the  editors  were  the  owners  of  the  period- 
icals. As  a  result  of  this  conflict,  Brethren  baptized 
into  the  same  Christ,  sheltered  in  the  same  fold,  but 
reared  under  different  influences,  and  hence  having 
different  standards, — all  seeking  what  they  thot  was 
the  highest  good  in  Zion,  came  to  the  sad  parting 
that  terminated  this  struggle.  Those  feeling  that 
they  were  far  in  advance,  withdrew,  and,  as  they 
felt,  went  ahead.  Others,  convinced  that  the  church 
was  going  entirely  too  fast,  dropped  off  behind; 
while  the  great  body  remained  staunch  and  staid  in 
the  faith  for  which  the  church  so  long  stood. 

But  was  the  struggle  worth  while?    The  heart- 
aches   in    homes    divided    as    they    were, — cleavage 

between  children  and  parents, — some- 
Who  Knows?    times  between   husband   and  wife, — 

the  splitting  up  of  congregations  into 
such  small  portions  that  all  suffered  as  weaklings, — 
was  it  worth  while,  when  all  sought  the  Lord  in  do- 
ing what  they  did?    Or  did  many,  forgetting  their 

88 


Struggle  to  1884 

hearts,  and  ruled  by  their  heads,  try  to  force  results 
that  patient  efforts  would  have  accomplished?  Who 
knows? 

Some  in  the  conflict  were  so  bitter  that  in  word 
as  well  as  in  heart  they  said  to  their  brother,  "  Be- 

g^one,  I  will  not  fellowship  with  you," 
xidf^^  or    "I    withdraw    from    you."      The 

brother  went  and  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  of  1880,  the  beginning  of  organized  mis- 
sionary efforts,  stands  today,  not  a  united  body,  but 
with  the  Progressives  withdrawn  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  Old  Orders  on  the  other. 

Let  the  cloak  of  charity  be  thrown  over  the  whole 
period.    The  historian,  passing  this  way,  will  stop  a 

moment  and  drop  a  tear  on  the  havoc 
onging    or      ^-^yide,  and  then  move  on.     Most  of 
Reunion  ,  •      ,  n-      , 

those  m  the  conflict  have  crossed  over 

the  river,  and  the  others  will  soon  follow,  and  all  of 
them  will  be  where  to  be  with  God  means  to  agree 
as  brethren.  A  new  generation  that  fought  not  the 
battles  of  this  wilderness  are  now  possessing  the 
promised  land  of  precious  opportunity,  and  it  will 
be  a  glad  day,  longed  for  in  the  hearts  of  many, 
when  the  fraternal  bond  of  "one  faith"  that  once 
bound  us  together,  again  unites  us  all  in  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord. 


89 


3Ftfll|rrH  of  Mm 


Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Follow  me,  and  I  will  make  you  fishers 
of   men.      Matt.    4:    19. 


Psa.  132:  16 
Matt.  3:  11 
2  Cor.  3:  6 

2  Cor.  5:  20 

1  Cor.  9:  19, 
23 


22, 


Prov.  11:  30 
James  5:  19, 

Dan.  12:  3 
Mark  16:  15 


20 


I  will  also  clothe  her  priests  with  salva- 
tion: and  her  saints  shall  shout  aloud  for 
joy. — He  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  with  fire. — ■Who  also  hath  made 
us  able  ministers  of  the  new  testament;  not 
of  the  letter,  but  of  the  spirit:  for  the  let- 
ter killeth,    but   the  spirit  giveth   life. 

Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ, 
as  though  God  did  beseech  you  by  us:  we 
pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  recon- 
ciled to  God. — Though  I  be  free  from  all 
men,  yet  have  I  made  myself  servant  unto 
all,  that  I  might  gain  the  more. — I  am 
made  all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  might 
by  all  means  save  some.  And  this  I  do 
for  the  Gospel's  sake,  that  I  might  be  par- 
taker  thereof   with   you. 

The  fruit  of  the  righteous  is  a  tree  of 
life;   and  he   that  winneth   souls   is   wise. 

Brethren,  if  any  of  you  do  err  from  the 
truth,  and  one  convert  him;  let  him  know, 
that  he  which  converteth  the  sinner  from 
the  error  of  his  way  shall  save  a  soul  from 
death,  and  shall  hide  a  multitude  of  sins. 

They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the 
brightness  of  the  firmament;  and  they  that 
turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars 
forever  and  ever. 

Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature. 


90 


V. 

C6e  ifir0t  Decade  of  £Drg:anffeD 
^is$ionatp  (Biiott 

WHILE  the  disagreement  of  the  years 
"eighty-two  and  three"  absorbed  the  atten- 
tion of  many  in  the  church,  there  were  still 
many  others  who  were  more  concerned  about  the 
welfare  and  progress  of  Zion.  The  church  mili- 
tant must  go  on  to  victory,  and  not  stop  because 
of  any  loss  of  strength.  The  contending  forces, 
having  in  a  large  measure  withdrawn,  the  time 
for  earnest  labor,  along  with  wise  planning,  was 
at  hand,  and  none  put  more  zeal,  enthusiasm 
and  care  into  the  work  before  them  than  did  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 

This  was  seen  in  the  fact  that  already  at  the  Con- 
ference of  1883  "  several  petitions  were  presented  to 
the   meeting,    asking   for   a   plan   by 
F^^dA^k°d^^     which    we    may    have    a    permanent 
Pqj  building  fund  for  building  meeting- 

houses." The  papers  were  referred  to 
a  special  committee,  to  formulate  a  report  covering 
all  of  them.  This  committee  realized  that  a  ques- 
tion of  large  possibilities  and  great  usefulness  was 
presented  to  them, — assisting  weak  congregations 
to  build  houses  of  worship,  and  thereby  giving  per- 
manence and  prestige  to  the  work  in  new  places 

91 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

that  could  not  otherwise  maintain  their  own  against 
the  odds  before  them.  The  urgency  of  these  peti- 
tions, also,  in  all  probability,  accounts  for  church 
building  being  placed  before  missionary  work  in  the 
name  of  the  new  committee, — the  General  Church 
Erection  and  Missionary  Committee. 

The    committee    returned    to    the 

rocee  meeting  the  following  recommenda- 

tion: 

This  meeting  sees  the  importance  of  something  being 
done  in  the  matter  referred  to  in  the  queries.  But  it  also 
feels  the  necessity  of  proceeding  cautiously  in  the  matter; 
therefore  lays  the  matter  over  for  one  year,  for  prayerful 
consideration  of  the  Brethren,  and  appoints  a  committee 
of  three  brethren  who  shall,  in  the  meantime,  formulate  a 
plan  and  rules  of  government,  to  be  submitted  to  next  An- 
nual Meeting  for  its  adoption.  Committee,  Samuel  Har- 
ley,  Geo.  C.  Bowman,  Jesse  Studebaker,  Jos.  C.  Lahman, 
L.  H.  Dickey. 

At  this  same  meeting  came  another 

Plan  for  r  i  •  ,  -r  -. 

P  .  paper  of  larger  import  even,  if  its  pur- 

Church  Work     pose   did   not  get   first  place   in   the 
name  of  the  new  committee. 

There  being  a  necessity  for  a  more  simple  and  effective 
system  for  the  purpose  of  raising  means  for  general  church 
work,  we  request  that  District  Meeting  ask  Annual  Meet- 
ing to  adopt  the  following  plan,  in  harmony  with  the 
Scriptures  (1  Cor.  16:  1-3;  2  Cor.  11:  8): 

1.  Let  the  foreman  of  each  church  or  congregation 
throughout  the  Brotherhood,  at  the  time  of  holding  their 
church  meetings  (say  at  least  once  a  quarter),  take  up  a 
collection  or  subscription  for  general  church  work. 

2.  Let  the  amount  so  raised  be  sent  up  to  Annual  Meet- 
ing by  the  delegates,  or  otherwise,  and  be  reported  to  the 
Clerk  of  the  Annual  Meeting. 

3.  Then  let  the  Annual  Meeting  appoint  a  committee  to 

92 


Organized  Effort 

whom  shall  be  reported  the  amount  brought  up,  and  to 
whom  all  claims  or  requests  for  means  to  carry  on  general 
church  work  shall  be  made,  such  as  Foreign  and  Home 
Missions,  assisting  in  building  meetinghouses,  or  any  work 
that  the  General  Church  may  be  disposed  to  assist  in 
or  do. 

4.  Said  committee,  after  duly  considering  all  such  claims 
or  requests,  shall  suggest  an  apportionment  of  the  funds 
to  the  different  branches  of  church  work,  as  they  may,  in 
their  judgment,  think  best  for  the  furthering  of  the  cause 
of  general  church  work,  and  report  the  same  to  Annual 
Meeting  before  its  close,  for  adoption,  rejection  or  amend- 
ment. 

5.  The  Annual  Meeting  shall  appoint  a  Treasurer  to  re- 
ceive the  funds  sent  in,  who  shall  disburse  the  same  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  instructions  resulting  from  the  last  pre- 
ceding clause.  He  shall  hold  office  until  the  next  Annual 
Meeting  and  make  his  report  thereto,  accompanied  with 
his  receipts. 

6.  The  report  of  the  amount  of  money  sent  in  from  each 
church  to  be  published  in  the  Minutes. 

The  committee,  appointed  to  receive  the  above 
papers  and  formulate  some  plan  to  be  submitted  to 
the  Conference  of  1884,  consisted  of  Daniel  Vani- 
man,  S.  S.  Mohler,  W.  R.  Deeter,  E.  Eby  and  John 
Zuck. 

The  report  of  this  committee  w^as  the  second  item 
of  business  at  the  meeting  of  1884  held  near  Dayton, 
Ohio.  The  report,  which  is  as  follows, 
AConstitu-        ^^g  adopted  and  became  the  Consti- 
tion  for  .  r  ,        T-,       ,      i        , 

Missions  tution    for    the    Brotherhood    under 

which  a  most  successful  campaign  of 
missions,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  has  been,  by 
the  mercies  of  the  Heavenly  Father,  developed  dur- 
ing the  last  twenty-nine  years  : 

93 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

1.  We  recommend  that  a  committee  of  five  brethren  be 
appointed,  living  sufficiently  near  each  other  for  frequent 
consultation:  part  of  whom  shall  be  lay  members,  part  dea- 
cons, and  part  ministers,  and  not  more  than  two  of  either; 
and  this  committee  shall  be  known  as  "  The  General 
Church   Erection  and  Missionary  Committee." 

2.  That  said  committee  be  nominated  by  Standing  Com- 
mittee and  approved  by  General  Conference,  and  shall 
serve  for  a  term  of  three  years,  except  the  members  first 
appointed,  two  of  whom  shall  serve  for  one  year,  two  for 
two  years,  and  one  for  three  years. 

3.  That  said  committee  shall  meet  as  often  as  neces- 
sary to  carry  on  its  work  successfully,  and  shall  elect  its 
own  officers,  make  its  own  by-laws,  fill  all  vacancies  that 
may  incidentally  occur  in  the  committee  and  recommend 
to  General  Conference  for  adoption,  anything  necessary  to 
forward  its  work. 

4.  That  the  object  of  this  committee  is,  and  shall  be,  to 
build,  or  assist  in  building  plain  houses  of  worship,  and  to 
send  suitable  brethren  to  preach  the  Gospel,  distribute 
tracts,  and  to  organize  and  build  up  churches  where  there 
are  favorable  openings.  All  expenses,  both  of  the  com- 
mittee and  of  brethren  sent  out  on  church  work,  to  be  paid 
out  of  the  funds  collected. 

5.  That  each  State  District  be  urged  to  have  some  ef- 
fective church  erection  and  missionary  plan  of  its  own  to 
assist  weak  churches  in  its  own  territory  to  build  plain 
houses  of  worship,  and  to  preach  the  Gospel  where  there 
are  favorable  openings;  and  the  General  Committee  may 
assist  but  shall  in  no  way  interfere  with  any  building  or 
missionary  work  carried  on  by  any  District  or  individual 
church,  and  any  church  situated  in  a  State  District,  in  or- 
der to  get  help  through  the  General  Committee,  must  ap- 
ply to,  and  build  under  the  directions  of  the  District  Com- 
mittee, and  District  Committee,  unable  to  meet  all  such 
calls,  may  apply  to,  and  receive  help  from  the  General 
Committee. 

6.  That  the  General  Committee  shall,  quarterly  or 
oftener,  circulate  thruout  the  Brotherhood,  a  printed  re- 

94 


Organized  Effort 

port  explanatory  of  the  nature  and  progress  of  its  work, 
and  shall  annually  submit  a  report  of  all  its  work  to  Gen- 
eral Conference  for  approval. 

7.  That  the  Standing  Committee  shall  annually  inspect, 
or  cause  to  be  inspected,  the  report  of  the  General  Com- 
mittee, before  it  is  submitted  to  General  Conference,  and 
shall  assist  the  Committee  in  developing  any  necessary 
improvements  for  advancing  the  work. 

How  to  Raise  the  Means 

1.  Let  each  member,  at  all  able  to  do  so,  give  for  gen- 
eral church  erection  and  mission  work,  one  cent,  or  more, 
if  able,  each  week,  according  as  the  Lord  has  prospered 
him,  upon  the  principle  taught  in  1  Cor.  16:  1,  2. 

2.  Let  each  congregation  thruout  the  Brotherhood  adopt 
some  plan  to  solicit  each  member  at  least  twice  each  year, 
and  receive  such  offerings  and  forward  the  same  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  General  Committee,  who  shall  receipt  for 
the  amount,  and  report  it  through  the  quarterly  report,  and 
to  General  Conference  in  connection  with  the  amount 
raised  and  expended  by  each  State  District  in  their  Dis- 
trict work. 

The  members  elected  for  the  Gen- 
j^.    •  eral  Church  Erection  and  Missionary 

Committee         Committee  were  as  follows:  E.  Eby 
and    C.    P.    Rowland,  one   year;    D. 
Vaniman  and  S.  Riddlesberger,  two  years ;  D.  L. 
Miller,  three  years. 

At  this  same  Conference  the  Foreign  and  Domes- 
tic Missionary  Board  had  its  last  meeting  on  June 

_        .  5,  closed  its  business,  referred   calls 

Covenng  ^    ^i  .  ,  -r-.        ^    . 

Four  Years  "^"^  committee,  and  Bro.  Qum- 

ter,  the  Treasurer,  made  a  summa- 
rized statement  covering  the  four  years  of  its  ex- 
istence: 

95 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Treasurer's  Report  Covering  Last  Four  Years 

For  Danish  Mission, $3,194.29 

For  Sister  Hope  and  family,  157.50 

For  benefit  of  young  Danish  brethren,  .  62.85 
For  benefit  of  the  poor  in  Denmark,  . . .  21.25 
For  building   of  meetinghouses,    2,557.71     $5,993.60 

Forwarded   to   Denmark,    $5,520.00 

On  hand,   $   473.60    $5,993.60 

Home  Missionary  Work 

Amount  collected  for  four  years $1,072.11 

Expended,    $756.31 

On  hand,  $315.80    $1,072.11 


On  June  13,  1884,  all  the  members  of  the  General 
Church  Erection  and  Missionary  Committee  met  in 

Mount  Morris,  Illinois,  for  the  pur- 
.  "  pose  of  organization  and  planning  the 

work  in  hand.  The  usual  form  of  by- 
laws was  adopted,  the  only  point  deserving  notice 
being  that  the  presiding  officer  is  called  "  Foreman  " 
instead  of  "  President,"  the  ordinary  term.  This,  no 
doubt,  was  done  to  meet  the  criticism  sent  by 
Nerthern  Il.Hnois,  Middle  Iowa  and  Southern  Ohio 
to  the  Annual  Meeting,  a  few  years  prior,  regarding 
the  "  Church  Extension  Union."  One  of  the  points 
of  protest  was  that  said  organization  "  requires  a 
Board  of  Directors,  President  and  other  officials." 
(See  Annual  Report,  1878,  page  51,  under  Northern 
District  of  Illinois.)  Enoch  Eby  was  elected  Fore- 
man, Daniel  Vaniman,  Assistant  Foreman,  and  D.  L. 
Miller,  Secretary-treasurer.    The  Committee  decided 

96 


Organized  Effort 


^'^<2j<'7J  o2j^. 


,/      /  o  o 


^ I,       ,.(f\aeJa^  d^&^^^J^^-.yfC  <i^^'<t^  4^^^    fay  ^         S  CO 


/^  ^^^M  jLi£e^'  ^(u^a^   M  ^  /OCO 

.       .,     d^cJ.   (frieze  Z^-'^cAfJ^.jA  ^  /ooo 

^  7" ' ' 

Pac  simile  of  first  page  of  D.  L.  Miller's  Cash  Book,  show- 
ing record  of  first  mission  receipts  in  1884  under  the  new  or- 
ganization. 

97 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

to  hold  regular  meetings  on  the  first  Tuesdays  of 
January,  April,  July  and  October.  One  of  the  acts  of 
this  first  meeting  was  to  print  the  "  Plan  Adopted 
by  Annual  Meeting  "  and  now  governing  them,  in 
the  Gospel  Messenger.  They  also  decided  "that  a 
circular  containing  the  same  be  mailed  to  each  elder 
in  the  Brotherhood." 

In  addition  to  the  plan,  the  Com- 
oLuicts^**        mittee  added  the  following  to  the  cir- 
cular: 

It  will  be  seen,  by  carefully  examining  the  foregoing 
plan,  that  provisions  are  made  for  expending  as  well  as  for 
raising  money.  The  State  Districts  are  urged  to  organize 
and  appoint  Missionary  Boards,  and  to  carry  forward  the 
work  in  their  own  territory.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the 
General  Committee  can  only  receive  calls  for  help,  and 
assist  in  building  meetinghouses,  thru  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  District  Committee.  The  wisdom  of  this  pro- 
vision will  be  seen  at  a  glance.  If  a  call  come  from  a  Dis- 
trict to  help  to  build,  the  Local  Committee,  being  acquaint- 
ed with  the  merits  of  the  case,  is  better  qualified  to  advise 
than  the  General  Committee  can  be;  and  hence  the  pro- 
priety of  making  a  call  for  help  is  placed  in  their  hands. 
The  General  Committee  take  this  occasion  to  urge  State 
Districts  to  organize  some  efifective  church  erection  and 
missionary  plan  of  their  own,  and  also  to  appoint  District 
Committees,  thru  whom  calls  may  be  made  on  the  Gen- 
eral Committee. 

Every  congregation  in  the  Brotherhood  is  strongly 
urged  to  appoint  a  solicitor,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  so- 
licit each  member  at  least  twice  a  year,  and  to  receive  such 
ofiferings  as  he  may  feel  to  give  to  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
By  this  means  all  may  give  and  all  receive  the  blessings 
promised  to  those  who  give  to  the  Lord.  The  Committee 
feel  to  commend  the  readiness  and  liberality  with  which 
the  missionary  plan  has  been  received  by  the  churches. 

98 


Organized  Effort 

Following  this  is  a  splendid  array  of  scriptures, 
under  the  head  "  Scriptural  Plan  of  Giving,"  an- 
swering the  questions,  "Who  Shall  Give?"  "How 
Much  Shall  We  Give?  "  "  In  What  Spirit  Shall  We 
Give?"  and  "The  Promised  Blessings." 

The  Brotherhood  had  not  caught  the  full  meaning 
of  the  new  plan,  even  if  it  had  been  sent  to  every 
bishop  for  careful  study,  besides  re- 
,  Q,  ceiving  other  publicity,  and  the  Com- 

mittee was  compelled  to  refer  many 
calls,  addressed  to  it,  to  the  Districts  where  they 
belonged,  because  they  came  from  organized  terri- 
tory. The  Minutes  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mittee say  that  "  calls  for  help  were  presented  from 
Denmark,  Sweden,  Germany,  Texas  and  Oregon ; 
also  a  call  from  St.  Louis  for  tracts."  But  the  calls 
were  all  deferred  because  no  money  was  on  hand. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Committee,  held  Octo- 
ber 7,  1884,  in  the  home*  of  D.  L.  Miller,  Mount  Mor- 

,„    ,  ris,    Illinois,    where    the    Committee 

vV  ork 

Reported  continued  to  meet  until  1899,  reports 

were  heard  from  fields  and  workers 
as  follows:  Daniel  Vaniman  for  Texas  and  Jeffer- 
son County,  Illinois;  D.  M.  Miller  for  Minnesota; 
S.  S.  Mohler  for  Texas;  W.  B.  Sell  for  Northern 
Missouri ;  J.  W.  Wilt  for  Glen  Hope  mission,  Penn- 
sylvania. Enoch  Eby  was,  at  this  meeting,  asked 
to  take  charge  of  the  Texas  mission. 


See  illustration. 

99 


*> 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

The  Committee  found  itself  handi- 
Worker  capped  for  workers  and  so  published 

a  call  in  the  Gospel  Messenger  after 
this  manner: 

The  Committee  desires  to  have  the  names  of  faithful 
brethren  who  are  willing  to  work  in  the  mission  field. 
Calls  are  often  made  and  the  Committee  is  at  a  loss  to 
know  whom  to  send.  If  they  had  a  list  of  names  to  select 
from,  then  they  could  send  suitable  brethren  who  live  near- 
est the  place  from  whence  the  call  comes.  Brethren  who 
are  willing  to  work  for  the  Master  in  this  way,  will  please 
send  names  and  addresses  to  the  Secretary,  D.  L.  Miller, 
Mt.  Morris,  Illinois. 

The  Annual  Report  for  1884  and  '85  tells  of  eight- 
een being  added  to  the  church  by  baptism  in  Den- 
mark, and  three  in  Sweden;  that  it 
First  Annual      ^^j^^^    ^^  gOO    annually    to    keep    the 
Report  ,  .  ,        T-,       ,        ^^    ^     , 

work  movmg;  that  Brother  Hope  de- 
sires to  return  to  America  at  the  close  of  1886.  It 
was  decided  that  $80.30  be  expended  to  send  Der 
Briiderhote  into  Germany  and  Switzerland,  and 
the  results  reported  were  some  letters  of  thanks. 
The  financial  part  stands  briefly  as  follows : 

Receipts: 

For  foreign  missions,  including  amount  from 

J.  Quinter,   $1,550.39 

Received  for  General  Mission  Fund 2,256.98 

Total,  $3,807.37 

Expenditures: 

Denmark,  for  meetinghouses,  etc.,   ..$1,261.55 
Support  of  Bro.  Hope  and  work,....   1,350.00 

100 


Organized  Effort 

Returned  to  Sister  Hope,  money 
willed  to  her  and  used  in  mission 
earlier,   $    500.00 

On  home  field,  Board  expenses,  etc.,.      440.54    $3,552.09 


On  hand,    $   255.28 

The  money  received  was  donated:  For  the  foreign  mis- 
sion by  166  individual  donors  and  148  churches;  for  gen- 
eral missionary  work  by  80  individual  donors  and  110 
churches. 

At  the  Conference  of  1885  Middle  Iowa  asked  to 

have  "  incorporated  a  clause  in  the  general  mission 

plan  that  said  board  shall  be  request- 

-,,  .  ed  and  empowered  to  locate,  if  pos- 

Mmisters  .,  ,  .    .  ,  '        r 

Bible,  a  mmister  wherever  a  prospect 

or  opening  is  found  to  build  a  church  of  the  Breth- 
ren."   This  was  granted. 

To  one  living  in  the  light,  enthusiasm  and  devel- 
opment of  missions  in  the  church  today,  some  of 
these  lengthy  extracts  may  seem  bur- 

_,    ^       ,  densome  and  superfluous  to  this  his- 

Preserved 

tory,  yet  these  very  efforts  should  be 

preserved  and  considered,  because  they  outline  the 
sure  foundation  our  fathers  laid,  on  which  now  the 
superstructure  so  grand,  rests.  This  is  why  the  fol- 
lowing circular  letter  to  solicitors,  prepared  by  D. 
L,  Miller  and  E.  S.  Young,  under  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee at  its  meeting,  October  6,  1885,  is  here  given. 
Note,  this  Committee  put  missions  before  meeting- 
houses in  their  address : 

To  the  Solicitors  of  the  Missionary  and  Church  Erection 
Work,  Dear  Brethren  and  Sisters,  Greeting: 
We  address  you  individually  upon  the  importance  of  the 
great  work,   entrusted  by   the   church   into   your   hands. 

101 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Upon  your  energy  and  earnestness,  in  soliciting  aid  for 
the  great  work  of  spreading  the  Gospel,  depends  the  suc- 
cess of  the  most  important  mission  ever  undertaken  by 
the  church.  Upon  your  efforts  and  your  labors  may  de- 
pend the  salvation  of  immortal  souls.  With  the  hope 
that  you  fully  realize  the  importance  of  the  great  cause 
for  which  we  are  jointly  laboring,  we  send  you  this  appeal, 
and  kindly  ask  you  to  consider  the  suggestions  herein 
offered. 

To  succeed  well  in  your  work,  you  will  find  if  you  have 
not  already  done  so,  that  it  will  help  you  very  much  if  you 
adopt  a  system  in  soliciting  aid.  Whatever  plan  you 
adopt,  let  it  take  in  every  member  in  your  congregation, 
and  let  it  include  a  personal  appeal  to  each  one,  laying  be- 
fore all  the  necessity  and  the  importance  of  giving  to  this 
great  work.  Do  not  be  satisfied  with  your  labor  until  you 
have  received  the  amount  from  your  church  asked  for  by 
the  Annual  Meeting,  i.  e.,  one  cent  a  week  from  each 
member,  or  fifty-two  cents  per  year.  You  know  how 
many  members  you  have.  If  there  are  one  hundred  they 
should  give,  collectively,  $52  per  year.  One  church  in  Illi- 
nois, with  a  membership  of  two  hundred,  gave  over  $300 
last  year  for  missionary  work.  Loyalty  to  the  church, 
and  a  desire  to  see  it  prosper,  loyalty  to  Christ,  and  a 
desire  to  see  sinners  brot  to  him,  will  induce  every  mem- 
ber of  the  church  to  give.  Remember  it  is  not  the  large 
sums  that  a  few  individuals  may  give  that  will  supply  the 
means  for  the  work,  but  it  is  the  one  cent  a  week  that 
every  member  ought  to  give,  that  will  supply  money 
enough  to  fill  every  call  that  is  made  on  the  Committee. 

Some,  we  learn,  excuse  themselves  from  giving  by  say- 
ing they  do  not  know  whether  the  money  will  be  used 
judiciously  or  not.  To  such  you  may  say  the  Mission 
Fund  is  as  carefully  guarded  as  any  fund  can  be.  The 
Treasurer  is  required  to  publish  a  quarterly  statement  of 
all  money  received,  so  that  all  may  see  that  the  sums  sent 
in  by  them  are  properly  reported.  Then,  again,  he  can 
only  pay  out  money  by  order  of  the  Committee,  and  must 
take  a  receipt  for  what  is  paid  out.    There  is  no  chance 

102 


Organized  Effort 

for    misappropriation    here.      The    funds    are    as    carefully 
guarded  as  possible. 

Again,  no  money  is  paid  out  in  salaries  to  the  Commit- 
tee, or  its  officers.  The  Secretary  and  Treasurer  gave 
fully  one-third  of  his  time,  last  year,  to  the  work  of  mis- 
sions and  gave  it  freely.  Actual  expenses  for  stamps,  pa- 
per, printing,  and  the  traveling  expenses  of  members  of 
the  Committee,  who  live  away  from  the  place  of  meeting, 
are  paid,  and  every  cent  of  the  balance  of  the  fund  goes 
to  the  mission  work.  We  call  your  attention  to  these 
facts,  so  that,  when  excuses  like  the  above  are  given,  you 
may  be  able  to  meet  them. 

The  energetic  solicitor  will  arm  himself  with  the  Sword 
of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  Word  of  God.  The  Word  is 
strong  and  full  of  commands  to  give.  1  Cor.  16:  2  trans- 
lated literally  from  the  Greek,  reads,  "  Upon  the  first  day 
of  the  week  let  every  one  put  into  the  treasury  as  he  has 
been  prospered  "  (Macknight's  Translation). 

In  conclusion,  we  urge  upon  you: 

1.  To  implore  God  to  help  you  in  the  work. 

2.  To  see  all  members  in  your  congregation,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, to  get  them  to  give.  Do  this  by  appealing  to  them 
personally.  Go  to  them;  don't  wait  for  them  to  come  to 
you.  Give  some  of  your  time  to  this  work,  and  the  Lord 
will  bless  your  labor. 

3.  Do  not  be  satisfied  until  your  church  has  sent  in  the 
amount  asked  for  by  the  Annual  Meeting,  one  cent  a  week 
for  each  member. 

4.  If  you  have  not  already  done  so,  begin  the  work  at 
once.  Remember  the  time  is  short,  and  what  we  do,  we 
must  do  quickly.  Our  race  will  soon  be  run.  Our  oppor- 
tunities for  work  will  soon  be  o'er. 

May  the  Lord  bless  you  all  with  us,  and  so  direct  the 
work,  entrusted  into  our  hands,  that  sinners  may  be  saved, 
and  his  great  name  be  glorified! 

During  the  ensuing  year,  ending  April,  1886,  the 

103 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Committee  pushed  its  work  with  commendable  zeal. 

The    Brotherhood    manifested    a    growing    interest, 

plainly  seen  in  the  increased  receipts 
Increased  ,    .      ^Ko^r^^o  ^-r^  ,  r 

Receipts  bemg  $849.63,  or  27%  over  those  of 

the  preceding  year. 

While  the  Committee  was  thus  quietly  pushing 

its  work,  Annual  Conference  of  1886  had  to  deal 

_  with    several    questions    bearing    on 

First  Public        ^,1        1  ^       f        •     .  T 

Missionary         ^^^    development    of    missions.       In 

Meeting  the  first  place,  in  1885,  at  the  Mex- 

ico, Pennsylvania,  Annual  Meeting, 
there  was  a  public  missionary  meeting  held  and  a 
collection  lifted,  the  first  outburst  of  willingness  to 
do  something  on  the  part  of  the  brethren  and  sisters 
who  had  long  desired  to  see  more  missionary  senti- 
ment developed  at  the  Conferences.  The  sisters  and 
brethren  had  planned  a  rather  quiet  meeting,  but 
were  persuaded,  by  influential  brethren,  to  have  the 
meeting  in  the  Tabernacle.  Not  all,  taking  part  in 
the  program,  came  up  to  the  standard,  for  some ;  the 
collection  was  objectionable  to  others.  On  the 
whole,  the  missionary  movement  was  again  some- 
what in  peril.  This  is  why  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements for  1886  consulted  Standing  Committee, 
and  together  framed  a  paper  (see  Report  of  Annual 
Meeting  for  1886,  page  12),  in  which  they  rehearse 
three  points  of  dissatisfaction  and  ask  Conference 
"  to  correct  which  errors  and  encourage  a  healthy 
growth  of  missionary  sentiment  and  work  in  the 
Brotherhood,  .  .  .  that  no  separate  missionary 
meeting  of  either  brethren  and  sisters  be  held  at 
this  Annual  Meeting.     .     .     .     That  a  missionary 

104 


Organized  Effort 

meeting  be  held  immediately  after  dinner  on 
Wednesday  and  that  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments see  that  proper  speakers,  to  open  and  conduct 
the  meeting,  be  secured."  This  was  approved.  In 
answer  to  a  query,  later  at  this  Conference,  it  was 
decided  that  "  all  business  or  work  on  the  mission- 
ary cause  must  first  pass  the  Annual  Meeting  in 
regular  order,  before  it  can  be  introduced  in  any 
form  at  the  meeting"  (Art.  15,  1886). 

A  request  that  cities  be  placed  under  the  General 

Board  was  denied,  because  "our  city 

City  Missions         •     •  i    .  j   r       u      i.u 

^      ,r^  missions  are  being  cared  for  by  the 

Cared  For  °  "^ 

Districts  in  which  they  fall," 
The  Committee  itself,  in  order  to  "  secure  suitable 
brethren  to  send  as  missionaries,  and  secure  the  co- 
operation of  all  the  churches  in  the  missionary 
work,"  petitioned  for  the  following  and  it  was 
granted : 

Let  the  Missionary  Committee  of  each  State  District 
nominate  two  or  more  ministers,  whose  consent  has  been 
obtained,  to  serve  as  missionaries  if  called  upon,  inside 
of  one  year,  one  of  whom  shall  be  elected  by  the  vote  of 
the  delegates  present  at  District  Meeting,  and  reported 
to  the  General  Committee,  with  a  statement  of  his  age, 
degree  of  office,  occupation,  and  the  number,  age  and  sex 
of  his  family  (Art.  21,  1886). 

The  year  closing  April,  1887,  shows  growth  and 
an  enlarging  vision.  The  Committee  saw  great 
value  in  securing  an  endowment,  first. 
Endowment  because  of  the  assured  income ;  sec- 
ond, because  there  were  many  who 
wished  to  perpetuate  their  usefulness  by  endowing. 
Hence  the  following  request  to  Conference  of  1887, 
which  was  readily  granted: 

105 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

The  General  Church  Erection  and  Missionary  Commit- 
tee was  authorized  to  accept  donations  for  an  Endowment 
Fund,  to  be  placed  on  interest  and  the  increase  from  it  to 
be  used  in  the  mission  work  of  the  church.  The  plan  for 
securing  and  investing  said  Fund  shall  be  left  in  the  hands 
of  the  Committee  (Minutes  of  Annual  Meeting,  page 
447). 

Before  Conference,  that  year,  a  number  of  queries 
appeared:    One  to  send  a  missionary  to  the  Mor- 
mons of  Utah ;  another  to  send  mis- 

^      .  sionaries  to   Germany,  because  from 

Queries  ,  ,      .    ,  .    ,        ,        , 

there  came  the  fathers  of  the  church. 

These  two  were  referred  to  the  Committee.  ReaHz- 
ing  the  great  value  of  the  Gospel  Messenger'  in 
spreading  the  Truth,  a  request  to  use  mission  funds 
to  send  the  paper  where  the  Missionary  Committee 
thought  wise,  was  granted.  While  the  matter  of  re- 
vision of  the  Hymn  Book  was  being  deferred  by  the 
Conference,  the  Missionary  Committee  was  permit- 
ted "  to  publish  a  small  book  for  its  use  in  mission 
work." 

The  report  for  1886  and  '87  shows  the  missions  in 
Denmark  and  Sweden  doing  well,  there  being  39 

accessions  during  the  year.  On  the 
jg_^  home  base,  work  had  been  carried  on 

in  Texas,  Dakota,  Tennessee,  Mis- 
souri, and  Kansas.  The  sum  of  $650  was  appropriat- 
ed to  six  different  Districts,  to  help  in  District  Mis- 
sions. Assistance  was  rendered  to  help  in  building 
six  meetinghouses,  and  147  accesions  were  report- 
six  meetinghouses,  and  147  accessions  were  report- 
ed there  stands  one  item  of  special  interest, — Sis- 
ters' Mission,  $258.66.     Following  the  inspiration  of 

106 


Organized  Effort 

the  public  meeting  in  1885,  the  sisters  began  to  form 
a  separate  organization  for  the  purpose  of  raising 
missionary  money.  In  1886,  Art.  4,  Conference  de- 
cided not  to  have  "Sisters'  Missionary  Bands,"  and 
the  amount,  here  turned  over,  was  the  end  of  a  short 
and  hopeful  effort  on  the  part  of  the  sisters  of  the 
church. 

The  Committee  pleads  strongly,  in  its  report,  for 
its  "  one  cent  per  week  per  member  plan,"  saying 
that  it  would  bring  $35,000  for  its  use,  greatly  need- 
ed, too,  and  "  no  one  burdened,"  but  so  far  it  had 
not  been  received. 

During  the  fiscal  year,  ending  April,  1888,  the  in- 
teresting fact  developed  that  already  $29,707.50  en- 
dowment had  been  received,  though 
Incorporation  permission  to  solicit  was  not  yet  one 
year  old.  It  was  found  that,  in  order 
to  invest  and  handle  this  fund,  it  was  needful  to  in- 
corporate. Conference  granted  this  and  the  Board 
incorporated  "  not  for  pecuniary  profit "  under  the 
laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

The  Committee  having  the  right  to 

Loans  on                   •  .  •        i     -ij-                  .•      i 

,,      .     .            assist  m     buildmg     meetm8:houses, 

Meetinghouses     .  ,  ,       ,                  ,                   ° 

either  by  loan  or  donation,  or  both, 

decided  on  the  following  rules  governing  loans : 

1.  Money  will  not  be  loaned  on  a  house  costing  over 
$1,000. 

2.  The  rate  of  interest  will  be  five  per  cent  per  annum, 
paid  annually,  and  the  loan  will  be  secured  by  a  lien  on 
the  house. 

3.  In  no  case  will  the  sum  loaned  exceed  $300  on  one 
house. 

107 


Missions  in.  Church  of  the  Brethren 

In  reviewing  the  last  four  years,  since  its  organ- 
ization, the  Committee  was  pleased  to 
LaltTour  announce    that    "nearly    $15,000    has 

Years  been  received  and  expended  for  mis- 

sion and  church  erection  work  and 
the  following  accomplished:  Churches  organized,  six- 
teen; houses  provided  for,  seventeen;  number  re- 
ceived by  baptism,  362." 

Growth  was  more  rapid  for  the  year  ending  April, 
1889,  for  the  total  receipts  were  increased  $1,403.79, 
— an  increase  of  287o  over  the  preced- 
fssT^^'"  ing  year.     There  were  158  members 

received  by  baptism,  and  two  congre- 
gations were  organized.  The  Committee  was  em- 
barrassed, however,  because  of  its  inability  to  secure 
workers,  and  this  in  spite  of  the  two  calls  preceding 
and  herein  recorded.  It  made  an  appeal  for  help. 
The  appeal  and  suggestions  were  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Committee,  to  report  to  the  next  Annual 
Meeting. 

At  the  Conference  of  1889,  by  the  re- 
Canada  quest  of  Southern  Ohio,  the  Canada 
field  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the 
General  Mission  Board. 

While  the  Committee  was  in  session  April  8,  1890, 

Sister  Cassie  Beery,  now  Van  Dyke,  of  Chicago, 

came  before  the  Board  and  asked  ad- 

^l"^^u  r^t       vice    about    going    as    a    missionary 
Thought  Of  ,  *  r^.  1        1       A 

teacher  to  Africa  under  the  American 

Baptist  Board.     How  deeply  were  touched  all  those 

present,   when   it  was   found   out  that   one  in   the 

Brotherhood  was  thinking  enough  of  the  swarthy 

108 


Organized  Effort 

people  in  far-away  Africa,  seriously  to  consider  go- 
ing to  them,  was  manifest  by  many  tears  on 
the  part  of  her  listeners,  as  Sister  Beery  told,  in 
simple  terms,  the  needs  of  the  "  Dark  Continent " 
and  her  opportunity.  A  friend  was  organizing  a 
party  to  work  in  Africa  under  the  American  Baptist 
Board.  And  while  the  Committee  wished  her  God- 
speed, and  promised  her  any  assistance  within  its 
power,  if  she  went,  she  was  not  accepted  because  not 
a  member  of  the  American  Baptist  church.  After 
her  marriage  to  Dr.  Van  Dyke,  they  together  offered 
to  go  to  Africa,  but  as  this  field  was  not  being  con- 
sidered by  the  Committee,  they  were  not  sent. 

At  the  Conference  of  1890  a  report  was  adopted, 

"  securing  suitable  brethren  for  missionary  work." 

Being  the  last  decision  on  the  subject, 

_,.    .        .  it  is  in  force  at  present.   It  is  to  be  re- 

Missionaries  ^ 

gretted,  however,  that  so  few  of  the 
congregations  interest  themselves  in  providing  men 
for  the  needy  fields,  as  to  hold  elections  as  herein 
provided.    The  report  is  as  follows : 

1.  Let  churches,  having  brethren  possessing  the  neces- 
sary qualifications,  from  time  to  time  hold  elections  to  in- 
crease our  ministry  with  the  view  of  meeting  the  growing 
demand  for  preaching  the  Gospel,  both  at  home  and  in  all 
the  varied  localities  of  the  missionary  field  of  the  world. 
And  let  all  ministers,  when  elected,  be  advised  and  urged 
to  hold  themselves  in  readiness,  as  much  as  possible,  to  be 
used  by  the  church  wherever  they  may  be  needed. 

2.  Let  the  General  Mission  Board,  as  often  as  they  deem 
it  necessary,  publish  the  following  qualifications  neces- 
sary for  missionaries: 

109 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

(a)  He  must  be  sound  in  the  faith. 

(b)  He  must  be  able  to  submit  himself  wholly  under  the 
control  and  advice  of  the  Mission  Board  under  whose  di- 
rection he  labors. 

(c)  He  must  be  able  and  willing  to  teach  and  defend  the 
principles  of  the  Gospel  and  the  doctrine  and  peculiarities 
of  the  church,  as  defined  and  applied  by  Annual  Meeting, 
and  must  manifest  the  same  in  his  conversation,  life  and 
character. 

(d)  If  married,  he  must  have  a  companion  who  is  to 
him  a  true  helpmeet,  possessing,  so  far  as  may  be,  similar 
qualifications,  and  who  is  ever  ready  and  willing  to  help 
him  in  every  possible  way  to  carry  forward  the  Lord's 
work. 

3.  Let  the  several  District  Meetings  each  appoint  three 
of  their  well-established  elders,  who  are  known  to  be  fa- 
vorable to  the  missionary  work  of  the  church,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  report  to  the  General  Mission  Board  the 
names  of  such  ministers  in  their  respective  State  Districts 
who  possess  the  proper  qualifications,  and  who  have 
proved  themselves  faithful  to  the  church  and  efficient 
workers,  and  who  are  willing  to  be  located  by,  and  work 
under  the  direction  of  the  District  and  General  Commit- 
tee. And  the  above  item,  if  adopted,  shall  repeal  Art.  21 
of  the  Minutes  of  Annual  Meeting  of  1886. 

4.  Let  the  General  Committee  give  the  regular  mission- 
aries to  understand  that  they  will  be  furnished  with  steady 
employment  as  long  as  they  prove  to  be  the  right  men  in 
the  right  place,  and  that,  while  thus  employed,  they  shall 
be  sustained  temporally. 

Once  that  Conference  took  hold  of  missions  and 

saw   its   blessed   results,   it   carefully   guarded   the 

work  afterwards.    This  is  seen  in  the 

mssimfs  ^^^^°"   °^   ^^^^'  r^^^*^"§"   to    a   query 

protesting-  against  paying  salaries  to 

ministers,  etc.    The  answer,  while  granting  the  re- 
quest, says,  "  But  this  shall  not  be  so  construed  as 

110 


Organized  Effort 

to  prohibit  Mission  Boards  or  churches  from  giving 
proper  support  to  those  laboring  under  their  in- 
structions "  (Art.  17,  1890). 

The  Committee  realized  the  need  of  Traveling 
Secretaries  "  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  preach  mis- 
sionary sermons,  solicit  bequests,  en- 

-,       ^    .  dowments    and    donations,"    and    to 

Secretanes  ,    ,      ,       ,        . 

help  develop  its  now  rapidly-growmg 

work.  Conference  granted  the  privilege  of  appoint- 
ing such  (Art.  26,  1891).  Under  this  provision  Sam- 
uel Riddlesberger,  Daniel  Vaniman,  I.  D.  Parker 
and  later  S.  N.  McCann  did  very  successful  work, 
the  first  increasing  the  endowment  about  $50,000 
and  each  of  the  others  about  $100,000  or  more. 

The  younger  members  of  the  church  began   to 

take  hold  of  missions  and  with  enthusiastic  hearts 

and   outreaching   hands   they   looked 

^  .,  J  towards  the  farthest  ends  of  the  earth. 
Considered  _,        .  ,  ^       , 

Thus  it  was  that,  on  October  1,  1892, 

the  Committee  had  before  it  a  proposition  to  open 

a  mission  in  India  for  the  first  time.     The  story  of 

the  India  Mission,  however,  is  found  in  a  chapter 

elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Closer  touch  with  the  fields  established  in  Europe 

prompted  the  Board  to  petition  Conference  and  it 

,,.  .  ,,.  so  decided  "  to  send  an  elder  once 
Visiting  Mis-  ^,  j    ^i    ^   i  •         -e 

sion  Fields         ^very   three   years   and   that  his   wife 

should  accompany  him  if  possible " 
(Art.  10,  1892),  to  visit  the  churches  in  Europe. 
This  action  remained  in  force  until  1901,  when  the 
Committee  asked  to  have  the  action  amended  so  as 
"  to  give  the  Committee  authority  to  send  an  elder 

111 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

and  his  wife  to  other  foreign  fields  besides  Den- 
mark "  (Art.  3,  Miscellaneous,  1901).  Under  this 
provision  D.  L.  Miller  and  wife,  at  their  own  ex- 
pense, visited  the  foreign  fields,  encouraged  the 
workers,  and  strengthened  the  home  base.  In  1912 
the  Committee  thought  it  wise  to  have  this  decision 
changed,  so  as  "  to  send  elders  to  visit  the  foreign 
field  when  it  is  deemed  necessary." 

In  1890,  at  the  Pertle  Springs,  Missouri,  Confer- 
ence, a  missionary  meeting  was  held,  at  the  close 
of  which  a  public  offering  of  $22-1  was  lifted.  Since 
that  time  the  missionary  meeting  has  steadily 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  most  important  meetings  of 
the  annual  gathering.  At  Meyersdale,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1891,  the  year  the  first  missionaries  were 
sent  to  India,  the  offering  at  the  missionary  meet- 
ing was  $260.88. 

In  the  fall  of  1893  D.  L.  Miller  and  another  broth- 
er were  appointed  to  get  out  a  sample  number  of  a 
missionary  paper,  — a  move  in  full  ac- 
ts 10  y  cord  with  the  plan  provided  by  Con- 
ference. Name,  Brethren's  Mission- 
ary Visitor,  published  quarterly.  It  was  an  interest- 
ing sheet  for  several  reasons.  It  had  no  cover,  the 
pages  were  small, — sixteen  in  all, — but  the  sample 
pleased  the  Committee  and  at  the  January,  1894, 
meeting  it  was  decided  to  publish  the  periodical  at 
the  subscription  price  of  25  cents.  It  was  also  de- 
cided "  that  the  names  of  the  contributors  be  print- 
ed in  connection  with  the  articles,  but  that  the  ed- 
itorials be  under  the  Committee's  name."  A  suffi- 
cient number  of  the  first  issue  were  printed  to  mail 
a  copy  to  each  reader  of  the  Gospel  Messenger. 

112 


Organized  Effort 

In  June,  1895,  the  Brethren  Publishing  Company, 
yet  held  in  private  ownership,  suggested  the  discon- 
tinuance of  the  Missionary  Visitor 
^Tn^  ^""d  ^"^  kindly  offered  one  page  of  the 
Gospel  Messenger  for  the  Board's 
use.  The  acceptance  of  this  proposition  was  de- 
ferred, and  at  the  October  meeting  following  the 
Visitor  was  changed  to  a  sixteen-page  monithly. 
During  the  year  1896, — the  needed  funds  having 
been  donated,  by  which  the  Committee  could  pur- 
chase and  own  the  Brethren  Publishing  Company, 
— the  same  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  church 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Committee,  as  provided 
for  under  the  plan  from  Conference.  At  the  Sep- 
tember meeting  following,  the  Missionary  Visitor 
was  discontinued  with  the  current  volume,  and  a 
page  in  the  Messenger  used  instead.  This  arrange- 
ment continued  until  April  29,  1902,  when  the  Com- 
mittee decided  "  to  start  a  thirty-two  page  monthly 
at  once,  call  it  the  Missionary  Visitor,  in  which 
columns  the  mission  receipts  should  appear,  and 
that  the  Editor  of  the  Gospel  Messenger  should 
take  charge  of  the  missionary  page  of  the  Messen- 
ger. 

The  monthly  was  revived  with  vigor,  its  visits 
welcomed   by   many,   and   the   following  year   the 

Committee  added  to  its  pages,  in  the 
The  Dollar  j^^^   issue,  the  Annual   Report,  thus 

giving  the  latter  a  much  larger  circu- 
lation than  it  would  otherwise  have  had.  Some 
time  after  this  it  was  decided  to  include  the  sub- 
scription price  in  every  dollar  donated  to  the  Board, 

113 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

the  magazine  to  go  to  the  donor  or  some  one  he 
should  name.  This  very  decidedly  increased  the  cir- 
culation as  well  as  the  mission  receipts,  but  a  num- 
ber were  receiving  the  paper  who  were  not  interest- 
ed. Then  it  was  thought  best  to  discontinue  the 
dollar  proposition  and  place  the  monthly  on  the  reg- 
ular subscription  basis.  This  was  done  at  the  meet- 
ing of  May  1,  1907,  and  the  effect  was  that  with  the 
new  year  less  than  half  the  number  of  subscriptions 
were  received  and  that  many  expressions  of  regret 
for  the  change  came  in.  At  the  meeting  of  Febru- 
ary 12,  1908,  the  Visitor  was  restored  to  the  dollar 
basis  thus  far:  It  was  decided  to  consider  the  sub- 
scription included  in  each  donation  of  a  dollar  or 
more  to  the  general  mission  work  of  the  Board. 
This  restored  its  circulation. 

The  editorial  management  of  the  Missionary  Vis- 
itor on  April  10,  1912,  passed  into  the  efficient  hands 

of  J.  H.  B.  Williams,  Assistant  Sec- 
its  use-  retary.      The    periodical    is    too   well 

known  to  need  further  commenda- 
tion. It  has  been  a  factor  in  moulding  sentiment  in 
favor  of  missions  through  the  years  thus  far,  to  an 
extent  not  measured  by  visible  results,  for  it  has 
stood  in  advance  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  Brother- 
hood and  in  this  manner  has  led  and  inspired. 

For  the  first  ten  years  of  organized  missionary 
work,  $66,076.30  was  received  by  the  Committee. 

The  first  year,  $3,407.37,  and  for  the 

Summary  last   one   of  the  ten  years,  $9,873.39, 

showing  a  threefold  increase.     It  was 

a  day  of  beginnings  for  the  Committee, — blessed 

days,  hopeful  and  growing  ones. 

114 


Organized  Effort 

The  Foreign  W-ork  During  This  Period 

During  the  years  1883  and  '84  D.  L.  Miller  and  wife 
made  their  first  visit  to  the  churches  of  Denmark  and 
Sweden  and  quickened  in  the  Brotherhood,  through 
letters  in  the  Gospel  Messenger,  a  deep  interest  in  the 
self-sacrificing  work  that  was  done  there.  This  was 
the  first  of  a  number  of  visits  they  made  to  this  field. 

At    the    Board    meeting    July    7,     1885,    consent 

was  given  for  Brother  Hope  to  return  to  America, 

but      the       Board       instructed      him 
ope    om    g     ^j^^^    .     ft  ^.|^    j^^j^    ^^    j^.^  have 

toAmenca 

charge  and  oversight  of  the  mission 

work  in  Denmark  and  Sweden,  as  the  Board 
feel  they  can  not  find  any  one  to  fill  his  place.  They 
also  request  him  to  get  everything,  pertaining  to  the 
mission,  in  as  good  shape  as  possible  before  coming 
away,  and  to  see  to  the  appointing  of  brethren,  liv- 
ing sufficiently  near  each  other,  so  that  they  can 
have  frequent  meetings,  to  take  charge  of  and  pay 
out  money  as  per  Brother  Hope's  suggestion."  Evi- 
dently his  coming  home  was  reconsidered,  for  at  the 
next  meeting,  in  October,  Brother  Hope  was  given 
"  his  choice  in  the  matter  of  coming  to  America  or 
remaining  another  year  in  Europe,  the  Board 
preferring,  however,  to  have  him  stay."  At  this 
time  Denmark  had  95  members  and  Sweden  30. 
Brother  Hope  and  family  arrived  at  Mount  Morris, 
Illinois,  a  short  time  before  October  1,  1886.  As  a 
token  of  appreciation  for  his  self-sacrificing  labors 
in  Europe,  voluntary  contributions  from  a  grateful 
Brotherhood,  amounting  to  $3,000,  were  awaiting  his 
arrival.    With  this  a  home  was  bought  near  Hering- 

115 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ton,  Kansas.  He  devoted  himself,  for  the  few  follow- 
ing years,  to  evangelistic  labors  among  the  Danes  and 
Swedes  in  Nebraska  and  Kansas. 

C.  Hansen  had  been  placed  in  charge  of  the  work 

in  Denmark,  with  headquarters  at  Hordum,  in  Thy. 

John  Olsson  was  located  near  Malmo,  in  charge  of 

the  Swedish  work.     These  brethren  gave  the  cause 

their  best  endeavors  and  it  moved  for- 

Lim  amn  ward  with  considerable  encouragement. 

House  _,      ,        ^^         ,     ,  ,  ° 

Brother  Hope  had  made  a  part  pay- 
ment on  a  lot  in  Limhamn  for  a  meetinghouse  site, 
and  in  1888  a  house*  was  ordered  to  be  built  there. 
The  church  in  Denmark  and  Sweden  met  some 
difficult  problems,  of  which  the  following  is  one: 

"  Is  it  right  to  send  our  children  to 
Difficult  the    State    church,    when    they    are 

Problems  taught  a  strange  and  false  doctrine? 

If  not  right,  what  shall  we  do  when 
both  Danish  and  Swedish  laws  compel  us  to  give 
them  as  much  scholastic  science  as  they  receive  in 
our  state  schools?  We  are  poor  and  can  not  open 
schools  of  our  own."  Conference  referred  this 
query  to  the  Board  and  it  answered  as  follows: 
"  We  recommend  that  the  children  be  allowed  to  at- 
tend the  state  schools  and  that  our  brethren  request 
of  the  proper  authorities  that  they  do  not  teach 
them  the  state  religion.  If  they  insist  on  teaching 
said  religion,  then  keep  their  children  at  home  and 
let  the  parents  teach  them  as  best  they  can,  suffer- 
ing, if  necessary,  for  the  truth's  sake." 

In  the  summer  of  1891  Brother  Hope  accompa- 

♦See  Illustration. 

116 


Organized  Effort 

nied  Brother  and  Sister  D.  L.  Miller  to  Denmark 
and  Sweden,  where  he  remained  and 
Europe  worked   till   January,    1892.     At   the 

^^°^^  January,   1892,   Board  meeting  $1,000 

was  appropriated  for  a  meetinghouse  at  Van- 
naberga,  Sweden.  Sister  Miller  had  the  privi- 
lege of  laying  the  cornerstone  while  they  were  in 
that  country. 

In  1894,  Denmark  had  three  congregations  with 
88  members ;  Sweden  had  four  congregations  with 
99  members.     In  the  last  ten  years 
Summary  ninety    were    baptized    in    Denmark, 

and  159  in  Sweden.  The  depletion  of 
the  membership  has  resulted  mainly  thru  emigra- 
tion to  America, — a  very  difficult  problem  confront- 
ing the  Board. 


117 


Habor^rB  Sog^^r  Uttlj  (^oh 


1  Cor.  12:  6 
John  6:  28 
Philpp,  2:   12 

1  Sam.  14:  6 
Mark  16:  20 
Col.  1:  29 

2  Cor.  5:  20 

Titus  1:  9, 
Luke  21 :  14 

1   Cor.  15:  10 


/  Cor.  J :  g 

There  are  diversities  of  operations,  but 
it  is  the  same  God  which  worlieth  all  in  all. 

What  shall  we  do,  that  we  might  work 
the  works  of  God?  .  .  .  This  is  the  work  of 
God,  that  ye  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath 
sent. — Work  out  your  own  salvation  with 
fear  and  trembling:  for  it  is  God  which 
worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  of 
his  good  pleasure. — It  may  be  that  the  Lord 
will   work   with   us. 

And  they  went  forth,  and  preached 
everywhere,  the  Lord  working  with  them, 
confirming  the  word  with  signs  following. 
— Whereunto  I  also  labor,  striving  accord- 
ing to  his  working,  which  worketh  in  me 
mightily. 

Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for 
Christ,  as  though  God  did  beseech  you  by 
us:  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye 
reconciled  to  God. — Able  by  sound  doctrine 
both  to  exhort  and  to  convince  the  gain- 
sayers. — Settle  it  therefore  in  your  hearts, 
not  to  meditate  before  what  ye  shall  an- 
swer; for  I  will  give  you  a  mouth  and  wis- 
dom, which  all  your  adversaries  shall  not 
be  able  to  gainsay  nor  resist. 

By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am:  and 
his  grace  which  was  bestowed  upon  me 
v/as  not  in  vain;  but  I  labored  more  abun- 
dantly than  they  all:  yet  not  I,  but  the 
grace  of  God  which  was  with  me. 


118 


VI. 

Cract  Di$ttilJUtion  a0  a  Separate 
dBnDeatoor 

BOOKS  are  like  bombshells, — they  can  be 
thrown  over  walls  whose  gates  are  closed," 
said  a  certain  writer  before  1875,  as  quoted 
by  J.  H.  Moore  in  an  announcement  made  on  the 
fourth  page  of  the  cover  of  "Trine  Immersion  Traced 
to  the  Apostles,"  a  splendid  pamphlet  prepared  by 
him  in  1872,  when  but  twenty-six  years  old. 

In  those  days  there  was  tract  distribution, — that 

is,  any  one  who  felt  like  doing  so,  could  write  and 

publish  a  tract.    The  church  had  not 

eac  ing  ^^     ^^  ^j^^  protection  of  an  examin- 

Not  Guarded      :        ^  .    ^       ,  ,  .  . 

mg  committee  about  this  avenue  of 

dissemination  of  the  Gospel,  and  a  few  writers, — 
notably  W.  C.  Thurman,  a  prolific  one, — sent  forth 
teachings  that,  in  the  mind  of  the  general  member- 
ship, were  full  of  error.  Conference  was  not  un- 
mindful of  this  condition  of  affairs,  and  readily  rec- 
ognized the  "  strong  demand  for  tracts,"  properly 
approved,  but  seemed  helpless,  at  the  time,  to  pro- 
vide the  protection  as  is  seen  in  the  following: 

Inasmuch  as  there  exists  a  strong  demand  for  tracts, 
advocating  the  faith  and  practice  of  the  Brethren,  we  ear- 
nestly recommend  a  more  united  effort  to  carry  forward 
this   work,   and   facilitate   the   publication   and   circulation 

119 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

of  works  of  this  character,  subject,  before  publication,  to 
the  examination  and  approval  of  well-established  breth- 
ren; therefore  we  earnestly  recommend  that  the  Brethren 
give  this  matter  an  earnest  and  prayerful  consideration. 

Answer:  Approved  by  order  of  the  District  Meeting, 
and  confirmed  by  this  Annual  Meeting. — Art.  29,  1875,  p. 
328,  Annual  Meeting  Minutes. 

On  the  other  hand,  writers  who  were  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  views,  held  by  the  Brotherhood,  put 

their  talent  and  means  into  pro- 
°""      "■      ^     ducing     and     sending     forth     good, 

sound,  doctrinal  tracts,  some  of  which 
showed  careful  and  exhaustive  research,  and  these 
were  extensively  and  effectively  used,  especially  in 
new  fields.  As  an  instance  of  a  good  list  in  circu- 
lation in  1875,  note  the  following,  which  were  pub- 
hshed  by  J.  H.  Moore,  then  at  Urbana,  Illinois : 

Trine  Immersion  Traced  to  the  Apostles,  J.  H.  Moore, 
25  cents;  5  copies,  $1.10. 

Origin  of  Single  Immersion,  J.  Quinter,  2  copies,  10 
cents. 

The  Perfect  Plan  of  Salvation;  or  Safe  Ground,  J.  H. 
Moore,  15  cents;  10  copies,  $1.00. 

Campbellism  Weighed  in  the  Balances  and  Found  Want- 
ing, J.  H.  Moore,  2  copies,  10  cents. 

Why  I  Left  the  Baptist  Church,  J.  W.  Stein,  3  copies, 
10  cents. 

One  Faith  Vindicated,  M.  M.  Eshelman,  15  cents. 

One  Baptism,  J.  H.  Moore,  IS  cents;  10  copies,  $1.00. 

True  Evangelical  Obedience,  J.  W.  Stein,  20  cents. 

Judging  from  the  titles  in  the  above  list,  the  de- 
mand was  for  tracts  defending  the  doctrines  and 
practices  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  in  distinc- 

120 


Separate  Endeavor 

tion  from  other  denominations,  rather  than  calHng 
on  men  to  repent  because  God  loves  them.  Yet  one 
dare  not  conclude  that  the  message  of  love  was 
omitted  even  if  it  did  not  appear  in  tract  form.  The 
very  sacrifices  the  ministry  made,  in  bearing  the 
Gospel,  were  usually  proof  enough  to  the  sinner 
that  God  loved  him  while,  at  the  same  time,  he 
heard  good,  sound  doctrine,  based  upon  plain  gos- 
pel teaching. 

Some    time    in    1876    a    Tract    Association    was 

formed,  with  headquarters  at  Lanark, 
A  Tract  •      •  . 

.        .    .  Illinois,    because    in    the    Brethren    at 

Association  ^,-     ,  '  ^      ^r.^^ 

Work,   January   1,    1877,   the  Asocia- 

tion  made  the  following  report  of  money  received : 

Lemuel  Hillery,   $       .25 

Jas.  R.  Gish,  10.00 

Coventry  Church,  Pa.,  2.60 

John  Y.  Snavely,  5.00 

Simon  Muntz,   .25 

Noah  Blough,   3.00 

James  Wirt 25 

John  K.  dinger 1.00 

C.  C.  Root 1.15 

Previously  reported,    321.75 

Total,    $345.25 

In  January  2,  1879,  of  the  same  publication,  M. 
M.  Eshelman,  secretary  of  "  The  Gospel  Tract  As- 
sociation," in  making  his  report  says:  "  It  is  now  a 
little  more  than  two  years  since  the  organization  of 
the  Gospel  Tract  Association,  which  fills  an  im- 
portant position  in  sounding  out  the  Gospel  to  those 
unacquainted   with   the   faith   and   practice  of  the 

121 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Brethren."  A  report  is  made,  perhaps  covering  the 
preceding  year,  tho  not  so  stated,  after  this  man- 
ner: 

Printing  fund, $301.30 

Distributing  fund,    134.20 

Amount  contributed  for  pamphlets,...     48.17 

Amount  now  appropriated, 40.00 

Balance  of  distribution  fund  on  hand,  .     46.03 

He  states  that  all  donations  of  $5  and  over  go 
into  the  printing  fund  while  all  under  that  amount 
are  used  in  the  distributing  fund.  In  the  same  issue 
appears  an  announcement  of  pamphlets  for  free  dis- 
tribution "  not  among  the  members  of  the  church, 
but  in  waste  places." 

Up  to  September  8,  1879,  there  is  no  hint  of  a 

.^       ,    ,  Board    of    Directors,    or    persons    re- 

Board  of  1,1       J-  ^1   •       .  ,  T-, 

Directors  Sponsible  for  this  tract  work.     But  at 

that  date  this  heading  appears  in  one 
of  the  periodicals: 

THE  BRETHREN  AT  WORK, 
Edited  and  Published  Weekly 
By  Eshelman  and  Harrison, 
General   Agents   for 
The  Brethren  at  Work  and  Tract  Society. 
Enoch  Eby,  Lena,  Illinois;  J.  S.  Flory,  Longmont,  Colo- 
rado; S.  T.  Bosserman,  Dunkirk,  Ohio. 

Nothing  is  said  as  to  the  character  of  the  organ- 
ization or  what  relation  the  brethren  named  sustain 

.  _,,      _  to  it,  but  in  a  few  weeks  J.  S.  Flory 

A  Plan  Com-  .,  i-         ,         ,  .<t^. 

mended  writes,  commending  the  plan :   "First, 

because   all   have  an   opportunity  to 

work  together,  and  each  donor  can  manage  the  dis- 

122 


Sq>arate  Endeavor 

tribution  of  the  amount  of  tracts  he  is  entitled  to. 
Second,  every  donor  becomes  a  colporteur  and  thus 
the  tracts  will  be  distributed  from  many  points. 
Third,  the  donations  never  become  exhausted."  As 
the  months  go  by  such  names  as  the  following  are 
added  to  the  list  in  the  above  announcement:  Dan- 
iel Vaniman,  D.  B.  Gibson,  Joseph  Hendricks,  John 
Metzger. 

In  its  report  in  1882,  the  Foreign  and  Domestic 

Mission  Board  has  one  item  of  expenditure  for  tracts, 

showing  that  some  were  being  used 

of  Activity  ^^  *^^^  organization,  but  who  wrote 

them  and  how  many  were  used,  is  not 
intimated.  This  gives  some  idea  of  the  activity 
there  was  in  publishing  and  distributing  tracts,  as 
conducted  with  more  or  less  vigor  up  to  1885,  when 
the  Brethren's  Book  and  Tract  Work  was  formed. 
During  the  period  just  covered  there  seems  to  have 
been  no  basis  available  on  which  to  estimate  the 
amount  done. 

There  was  no  dissenting  voice  when  there  came 
before  the  Annual  Meeting  of  1885  a  query  to  pro- 
vide for  a  Brethren's  Book  and  Tract 

The  Plan  of         c     •  i.  •   j      vu  n 

.  Society,  accompanied  with  a  well-ma- 

tured plan,*  prepared  by  Enoch  Eby, 
David  E.  Price,  Joseph  Amick,  S.  Z.  Sharp  and  D. 
M.  Miller,  a  committee  of  able  bishops  appointed  by 


♦statements  made  above  are  based  on  the  Annual  Report  for 
1885  Conference,  page  37  ff.  D.  L.  Miller,  writing  from  mem- 
ory on  June  11,  1913,  says,  "Daniel  Vaniman  wrote  the  Tract 
Plan  as  it  passed  Annual  Meeting,  with  one  or  two  minor 
amendments.  It  may  have  been  this  way,  since  I  have  read 
the  report:  The  Committee  appointed  asked  Brother  Vani- 
man to  meet  with  it,  for  he  was  there  and  I  was  there.  We 
met  in  the  Gospel  Messenger  office,  in  Mt.  Morris.  Brother 
Vaniman  should  have  credit  for  preparing  the  plan." 

123 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

the  District  Meeting  of  Northern  Illinois  and  Wis- 
consin. The  District  of  Southern  Illinois  was  there 
also,  with  a  similar  query  but  no  plan.  The  discus- 
sion brought  out  nothing  save  concern  that  no  tract 
save  those,  carefully  examined  from  a  doctrinal 
standpoint,  should  be  circulated.  The  plan  is  as 
follows : 

Art.  1. — This  Committee  shall  be  called  the  Brethren's 
Book  and  Tract  Committee;  and  shall  have  for  its  ob- 
ject the  dissemination  of  the  principles  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  through  the  distribution  of  tracts  and  other  pub- 
lications, both  in  this  and  foreign  countries;  in  families,  in 
cities,  towns,  and  country;  in  cars,  depots  and  reading 
rooms;  on  board  of  outgoing  and  incoming  vessels;  in 
short,  everywhere  as  means  for  publication  and  facilities 
for  judicious  dissemination  can  be  secured. 

Art.  2. — The  Standing  Committee  of  Annual  Meeting 
shall  nominate  and  Annual  Meeting  approve  and  perpetu- 
ate, an  Executive  Committee  of  six  members,  living  suffi- 
ciently near  each  other  for  frequent  consultation:  to  serve 
for  a  term  of  three  years,  except  the  members  first  ap- 
pointed, two  of  whom  shall  serve  one  year,  two,  two  years, 
and  two,  three  years.  Said  Committee  shall  select  its  own 
officers,  make  its  own  by-laws,  procure  and  distribute 
tracts,  and  other  publications  upon  best  available 
methods;  fill  all  incidental  vacancies  occurring  in  the 
Committee;  inform  Standing  Committee  each  year  whose 
time  has  expired,  and  make  an  annual  report  of  its  work, 
including  receipts  and  expenditures,  with  all  necessary 
suggestions  to  Annual  Meeting  through  Standing  Com- 
mittee, which  shall  inspect,  or  cause  said  report  to  be 
carefully  inspected. 

Art  3. — The  fund  of  the  Committee  shall  consist  of  be- 
quests, free-will  offerings,  money  received  on  life  interests 
and  from  sale  of  publications. 

Art.  4. — In  order  to  promote  the  object  of  the  Commit- 
tee, each  church  in  the  Brotherhood  is  hereby  requested 

124 


Separate  Endeavor 

to  appoint  one  or  more  home  agents  to  solicit  aid,  and  as- 
sist in  distributing  the  publications  of  the  Committee. 
The  home  agent  shall  forward  the  means  to  the  Treasurer 
as  collected;  fill  out  blanks  furnished,  and  present  them 
quarterly  to  the  church  for  approval  and  then  to  the  Cor- 
responding Secretary  of  the  Committee. 

Art.  5. — Each  church  shall  be  entitled  to  draw  any  of 
the  publications  of  the  Committee  thru  her  home  agents, 
equal  in  value  to  half  the  sum  paid  during  the  year.  All 
claims  for  publications  not  presented  during  the  year  shall 
expire  May  1  of  each  year. 

Art.  6. — Any  person,  pajdng  at  one  time  twenty  or  more 
dollars  to  promote  the  object  of  the  Committee,  shall  be 
entitled  to  draw  annually  from  the  Committee,  a  printed 
report  of  its  work,  and  any  other  of  its  publications  to  the 
value  of  one  dollar  for  each  twenty  dollars  paid. 

Art.  7. — The  Standing  Committee  shall  nominate,  and 
the  Annual  Meeting  confirm,  a  committee  of  five  faithful 
and  well-informed  brethren  whose  duty  it  will  be  to  ex- 
amine and  approve  all  works  to  be  published  and  distrib- 
uted by  the  Committee. 

The  six  members  for  the  Executive  Committee 
appointed  as  provided  for  in  this  plan,  were  as  fol- 
lows: S.  D.  Royer  and  S.  W.  Hoover, 

three  years;  Adam  Minnick  and  B.  F. 
nuttees  t*  t  •  n 

Miller,  two  years ;  Jacob  Hepner  and 

Samuel  Bock,  one  year. 

The  Examining  Committee  named  was  Enoch  Eby, 
R.  H.  Miller,  Landon  West,  B.  F.  Moomaw  and  S. 
S.  Mohler. 

August  4,  1885,  the  Executive  Committee  met  in 
the  Salem  Church,  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  and 
completed  the  following  organization :  S.  W.  Hoov- 
er, Foreman;  J.  A.  Hepner,  Treasurer;  Samuel 
Bock,  Secretary.  They  framed  and  adopted  by- 
laws, very  simple  and  adequate  for  their  needs.  The 

125 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

most  important  item  in  them  is,  that  the  Committee 
would  meet  quarterly  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  Au- 
gust, November,  February  and  May,  beginning  the 
session  at  10  A.  M.  On  August  13  the  Committee 
met  in  S.  W.  Hoover's  home,  near  Dayton,  Ohio, 
a  place  where  many  Brethren,  thru  the  years,  used 
to  gather.  Three  thousand  copies  of  a  small  pam- 
phlet,   setting    forth    the    Constitution 

An  Address         r  r^      r  -n     i  r\  j\  t 

from  Conference,  By-laws,  Order  of 
to  Members  ^      j  ^ 

Business  and  an  "Address  to  the  Eld- 
ers, Ministers  and  Members  of  the  Brotherhood," 
were  ordered  printed  and  distributed.  The  address 
is  worthy  of  place  in  this  record  and  is  as  follows : 

Dear  Brethren  and  Sisters: 

We,  your  committee  for  the  publication  of  Books  and 
Tracts,  send  greeting,  with  a  statement  of  the  objects  and 
work  now  before  us. 

And  now,  having  begun  our  part  of  the  work,  and  seeing 
that  the  field  of  labor  assigned  us  by  the  Brethren,  and 
to  all  of  us  by  the  Master,  is  so  very  great,  we  ask  the 
assistance  of  all,  that  the  efforts  may  be  a  success. 

Knowing  that  we,  as  a  body,  possess  all  the  classes 
needed  for  the  work, — have  those  who  are  competent  and 
willing  to  write  of  the  faith  and  work  of  Jesus,  those,  too, 
who  are  able  and  willing  to  bear  the  cost  of  putting  it 
forth,  and  those  also  who  are  anxious  and  waiting  to 
carry  it  to  the  world,  it  is  proposed  by  the  act  of  the  late 
Annual  Meeting,  at  Mexico,  Pennsylvania,  to  bring  all 
these  helps  together   into  active   service. 

The  object  of  this  work  is  to  bring  before  the  world, 
at  small  cost,  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  with  all  its  pecul- 
iarities. We  name  here  the  more  prominent  ones,  that 
all  may  see  the  class  of  matter  to  be  sent  forth: 

Preaching  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

Repentance  from  Dead  Works. 

126 


Separate  Endeavor 

Faith  Toward  God. 

Baptism  by  Trine  Immersion,  and  for  the  Remission  of 
Sins. 

The  Laying  on  of  Hands. 

The  Office  and  Gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  Rite  of  Washing  One  Another's  Feet. 

The  Lord's  Supper. 

The  Communion  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Christ. 

The  Salutation  of  the  Holy  Kiss. 

The  Doctrines  of  Peace  and  Holiness. 

Nonconformity  to  the  World  in  Its  Various  Sinful  Cus- 
toms, etc. 

Anointing  the  Sick  and,  in  Fact,  All  the  Doctrines,  Com- 
mandments and  Promises  of  the  New  Testament. 

Feeling  that  each  brother  and  sister  can  do  a  part,  we 
ask,  yea,  we  would  urge  it,  that  each  of  the  churches  in 
the  Brotherhood,  will,  without  delay,  appoint  a  home 
agent  (see  Minutes  of  A.  M.,  1885,  No.  7,  Art.  4)  to  solicit 
aid  for  this  work. 

Trusting,  too,  that  all  members  will  feel  it  a  duty  to 
comply  with  the  request  of  Annual  Meeting  and,  above  all, 
with  the  command  of  Jesus,  therefore,  we,  your  commit- 
tee, in  view  of  all  these  things,  would  now  appeal  to  each 
one  and  to  all,  to  aid  in  the  work  in  whatever  way  they 
can. 

Let  those  who  will  and  can  give,  to  aid  the  work,  do  so 
— and  all  can  give  something — feeling  assured  that  their 
gift  will  be  used  for  the  Master's  Name. 

Let  those  who  can  distribute  the  publications  of  the 
committee  to  the  world,  come  into  the  work  and  help. 
Let  each  one  feel  that  he  can  and  will  do  a  part  to  aid 
the  coming  of  that  kingdom  over  which  Jesus  will  reign 
and  which  at  last  is  to  fill  the  world. 

As  a  result  of  this  publicity,  as  well 

T,  , ,.  .^  as  what  was  said  thru  the  columns  of 

Publicity 

the    Gospel  Messenger,  the  Work   re- 
ceived funds  as  follows: 

127 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

From  churches,    $176.18 

From   individuals 23.40 

From  individuals  not  members 165.50    $365.08 

It  would  appear  that  the  Examining  Commit- 
tee did  not  meet  the  first  year  and  so  there  was  no 
money  expended  for  publishing  tracts.  The  follow- 
ing expenditures  were  made : 

Publication  of  pamphlets,  stationery,  postage,  etc.,.$  75.58 
Balance  on  hand,   289.50 

The  Report  made  to  Annual  Meeting  for  1887 
showed  decided  activity  on  the  part  of  the  Com- 
mittee. S.  D.  Royer,  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  as  long  as  the 
organization  continued,  recalls  this: 
"  D.  Vaniman  gave  us  the  first  tract,  '  The  House 
We  Live  In,'  "  "  Golden  Gleams,"  a  series  of  scrip- 
ture selections  on  different  subjects,  printed  in  large 
type  on  large  sheets  and  bound  together,  suitable 
to  hang  on  the  wall  of  a  home,  was  issued  and 
found  a  ready  sale  at  75  cents  each.  Of  this  750 
copies  were  sold  the  first  year.  D.  L.  Miller's  "  Eu- 
rope and  Bible  Lands,"  Quinter's  "Trine  Im- 
mersion," "  Classified  Minutes  of  the  Annual  Meet- 
ing," "  Close  Communion,"  by  Landon  West,  were 
among  the  books  advertised  at  the  close  of  the  sec- 
ond fiscal  year.  In  addition  they  were  also  pre- 
pared for  the  following: 

Pamphlets 

Path  of  Life. 

Sermon  on  Baptism. 

Glad  Tidings  of  Salvation. 

Life  of  Eld,  Samuel  Weir  (colored), 

128 


Separate  Endeavor 


Tracts 


The  House  We  Live  In,  in  English,  Swedish  and  Dan- 
ish languages. 
Plan  of  Salvation. 
Turn  to  the  Right. 
Come  Let  Us  Reason  Together. 
Paul  Wetzel's  Reasons,  etc.,  in  German. 

One-page  Leaflets 

Saving  Words. 

Right  and  Wrong  Way, 

Pause  and  Think. 

What  Do  We  Need? 

Why  Am  I  Not  a  Christian? 

Evils  of  Intemperance. 

Lost  Opportunities. 

Kiss  of  Charity. 

Christ  and  War. 

The  Bond  of  Peace. 

Are  You  a  Christian? 

The  Brethren's  Card. 

The  publications  sold  and  distributed  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

Golden  Gleams,   750 

Tracts,  books.  Messengers  and  Briiderbote, 43,850 

Total,  44,600 

The  number  of  publications  they  had  bought  and 
printed  is  stated  thus: 

English 

Golden  Gleams,    1,000  copies 

Books  and  pamphlets,   1,600  copies 

Gospel  Messengers,  Missionary  Number,...   5,000 copies 
Tracts, 59,000  copies 

129 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

German 

Der  Bruderbote,  Missionary  Number, 1,000  copies 

Tracts 2,000  copies 

Swedish 
Tracts,    13,000  copies 

Danish 
Tracts 6,000  copies 


Total 88,600  copies 

The  financial  statement  for  the  year  ending  May, 
1887,  shows  as  follows : 

Balance  from  preceding  year,  $   289.50 

Donations  from  churches,  $481.63 

Donations  from  individuals,   58.80 

Cash   memberships,    40.00 

Sale  of  tracts,  44.05 

Sale  of  Gleams,  272.00 

Sale  of  books,  77.17    $   973.65 


Outstanding  accounts,  220.64 


$1,483.79 


Expense 

Printing  bills  and  books,  $743.24 

R.  R,  fare,  freight,  stamps  and  sundries,.  116.15 


$859.39 

Outstanding  accounts,   $220.64 

Cash  on  hand,  403.76    $624.40      $1,483.79 


Endowment,  $3,200.00 

The  above  amount  of  endowment  was  in  re- 
sponse to  an  appeal  for  a  permanent  endowment  of 
which  the  following  is  a  part: 

130 


Separate  Endeavor 

To  make  the  work  and  its  mission  effectual,  the  ex- 
penses will,  of  necessity,  be  constantly  enlarged,  as  the 
demand  for  publications  is  increased,  and  to  the  extent 
that  it  can  not  be  expected  that  the  sums  alone,  obtained 
each  year,  as  donations  from  churches  and  individuals, 
will  for  any  certain  length  of  time  be  sufficient  to  support 
the  work,  and  meet  fully  its  requirements,  as  indicated  by 
the  present  rate  of  increase. 

To  meet  this  want  both  the  practicability  and  desirabil- 
ity of  a  "  permanent  fund "  was  suggested  as  the  basis 
from  which  to  draw  an  annual  income  called  the  "  en- 
dowment fund,"  the  utility  and  benefits  of  which  this  tract 
is  more  particularly  intended  to  show,  and  the  support 
that  a  sum  of  money,  or  its  equivalent,  will  give  an  insti- 
tution, when  it  has  been  permanently  appropriated. 

The  person  bestowing  or  settling  an  endowment  on  the 
Brethren's  Book  and  Tract  Work,  becomes  an  endower 
and  benefactor  to  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and  the 
"  Work  "  draws  support  therefrom  for  all  time  to  come. 

A  sum  of  money  or  its  equivalent,  so  placed,  is  under 
the  control  of  the  Executive  Committee,  which  is  perpet- 
uated by  Annual  Meeting,  and  can  never  be  expended,  but 
becomes  a  source  of  permanent  support,  the  revenue  or 
income  from  which  only  is  to  be  expended  in  the  publica- 
tion and  distribution  of  books,  tracts,  etc.,  of  the  German 
Baptist  Brethren  Church,  as  provided  by  the  constitution 
of  the  work. 

Twenty  dollars  constitutes  one  life  membership  and  en- 
titles the  person  to  draw  annually,  during  his  or  her  nat- 
ural life,  one  dollar's  worth  of  books  and  tracts,  and  such 
sum  is  at  once  placed  to  the  endowment  fund  and  put  out 
on  interest. 

An  endowment  note  given  for  twenty  or  more  dollars, 
bearing  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  same  payable 
annually  and  becoming  due  and  payable  in  any  given  num- 
ber of  years  or  at  death,  also  entitles  the  person  to  draw 
annually  one  dollar's  worth  of  publications  for  each  twen- 
ty dollars  of  such  obligation. 

A  person  settling  a  legacy  on  the  work  by  giving  a  be- 

131 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

quest  note,  becoming  due  at  death,  but  without  interest, 
also  becomes  an  endower,  but  is  not  entitled  to  draw  any 
publications,  for  the  reason  that  it  does  not  derive  any 
benefit  therefrom  until  after  the  decease  of  the  person  and 
the  money  is  paid. 

A  certificate,  showing  the  sum  contributed  by  the  indi- 
vidual, whether  in  cash  or  by  endowment  note,  is  sent  to 
each  endower  upon  receipt  of  same,  and  which  becomes 
his  or  her  order  upon  which  to  draw  annually  publications 
as  above  stated. 

The  Tract  Work  is  an  institution  and  creature  of  the 
church,  and,  as  such,  its  auxiliary  and  help  for  the  exten- 
sion of  its  doctrine;  and,  like  all  other  missions  of  the 
church  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his  kingdom, 
to  save  souls,  it  is  entitled  to  receive  both  moral  and  finan- 
cial support  from  its  members. 

To  look  at  the  matter  in  none  other  than  a  purely  busi- 
ness light,  it  will  become  manifest  that  this  permanent 
fund  secures  to  the  work  an  air  of  independence  by  pro- 
viding a  perpetual  income,  to  be  secured  in  no  other  way, 
and  will,  we  believe,  within  the  brief  period  of  a  few 
years,  in  a  great  measure,  obviate  the  necessity  of  making 
so  many  and  repeated  calls  on  the  church  for  aid. 

This  particular  feature  alone  will  give  it  favor  with  our 
brethren  and  sisters,  and  all  well-disposed  persons,  and 
which,  too,  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  gospel  instruc- 
tions of  free-will  offering  as  the  Lord  has  prospered. 
Printed  blanks  sent  upon  application. 

It  seemed  good  to  the  Executive  Committee  to 
employ    special   tract    distributers,   who   went    from 

home  to  home  in  city  after  city  where 
Tract  Dis-  there  was  no  Church  of  the  Brethren 

and  left  tracts  wherever  they  would 
be  received.  In  this  manner  the  number  of  tracts 
sent  out  by  the  Committee  grew  very  large.  It  also 
took  time  for  a  distributer  to  go  over  a  city  in  this 
way,  and  usually  the  worker  sought  to  organize  a 

132 


Separate  Endeavor 

Sunday-school,  and  arrange  for  preaching.  In  some 
instances  this  resulted  indirectly  in  the  organization 
of  a  congregation.  The  Reading  congregation  in 
the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania  is  an  instance  in 
hand.*  No  doubt  there  are  other  places,  similiarly 
started,  could  the  thread  of  influence  be  followed  as  the 
Father  in  heaven  knows  it.  On  the  other  hand,  when 
the  work  of  a  distributer  was  not  followed  up  by 
suitable  preaching  and  pastoral  care, — as  it  was  not, 
in  a  numiber  of  instances, — as  far  as  human  eye  can 
trace,  all  was  lost.  Among  those  who  were  active 
and  successful  tract  distributers,  giving  their  entire 
time  to  the  work,  should  be  named  Ella  Rafifensber- 
ger  Webster,  Martha  Click  Senger  and  Eliza  J. 
^.IcGachey.  J.  M.  Neff,  L.  H.  Eby,  Daniel  Shively, 
J.  B.  Priser  and  Jas.  Quinlan,  besides  many  others 
gave  part  time  and  distributed  many  tracts. 

In  1892  the  Tract  Work  issued,  in  bound  form,  a 

complete  set  of  tracts  and  pamphlets, 

Bound  Volume      u-  i,  x        j  j         i     •     ^^u     r 

,-,  which  found  a  ready  sale  m  the  few 

years  that  followed ;  but  as  the  new 

tracts  were  published  in  a  different-size  page  later, 

no  new  edition  was  published. 


•In  writing  of  this  congregation  David  Kilhefner,  of  Ephra- 
ta,  Pennsylvania,  under  date  of  May  6,  1913,  says:  "She  (Ella 
Raffensberger  Webster)  left  here  for  Reading  where,  at  the 
time,  lived  only  five  members,  with  no  services  of  any  liind. 
She  went  to  worlc  distributing  tracts  and  worlced  hard,  and 
soon  had  a  Sunday-school  organized.  They  met  in  an  old  va- 
cated meat  store.  With  some  opposition  and  untiring  effort 
she  succeeded  in  having  the  brethren  come  in  and  organize  a 
church.  The  Mission  Board  (District)  then  employed  her  to 
distribute  tracts  and  do  mission  worlc  for  some  time  with 
good  success.  ....  I  know  she  did  a  noble  work  in  Read- 
ing, in  making  the  doctrine  of  the  Brethren  known  in  that 
City  by  distributing  tracts  from  house  to  house." 

133 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

A  summary  through  the  years,  tab- 

umiMry  or      elated  as  far  as  possible,  may  be  of 

interest  and  worth  preserving.   In  the 

following  table,  endowment  in  any  form  and  "  cash 

memberships,"  are  not  included. 

CASH.  Bibles,  Books, 

Received.  Expended,         Gleams.        Tracts. 

1886,    $     365.08        $       75.58        

1887,    953.65  859.39  750  43,850 

1888,  1,678.12  1,655.73  1,002  99,550 

1889,  2,157.98  1,757.49  998  120,150 

1890,  2,598.05  2,215.93  991  220,620 

1891,  2,611.19  3,170.94  808  222,700 

1892,  4,925.41  3,220.57  1,282  432,308 

1893,  4,174.04  4,594.59  *1,000  *400,000 

1894,  4,010.55  3,668.20  *l,0OO  *375,000 


Total,   ...$23,474.07        $21,218.42  7,831        1,914,178 

Besides  the  above,  an  endowment  fund  in  the 
form  of  cash  and  pledges  had  been  gathered, 
amounting  to  $64,884.93.  Not  all  of  the  pledges 
have  been  paid,  however.  The  actual  cash  endow- 
ment, at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  of  1894,  was 
$9,120.00. 

The  Report  for  1893  further  states  that  "  upon 
the  whole  the  work  presents  many  encouraging  fea- 
tures. Missionaries  have  been  employed  in  a  lim- 
ited way,  who  have  made  house-to-house  visits  in 
towns  and  cities  and  country,  distributing  tracts 
and  offering  Gleams  and  books,  and  talking  up  the 
interests  of  the  good  cause  with  encouraging  re- 
sults.    This  branch  of  the  work  is  practically  un- 


*Estimated,  because  in  Report  for  1893  appears  the  general 
statement  that  "  the  number  of  publications  sent  out  the  past 
year  is  somewhat  less  than  the  year  before." 

134 


Separate  Endeavor 

limited  in  its  application  and  should  be  greatly  en- 
couraged both  at  home  and  abroad." 

The  Tract  Examining  Committee  had  no  small 
task  before  it,  in  1886,  when  they  met  to  pass  on 
the  work  in  hand.    In  the  first  place 
Tract    ^  |-j^g  church  has  always  prided  herself 

Examining  ,       .  ,  ^i       tvt 

^    ,  on   havmg  no   creed   save   the   New 

Testament,  and  on  its  interpretation 
she  has  always  held  herself  open  to  new  light.  The 
work  of  the  Tract  Examining  Committee  then  was, 
to  pass  on  manuscripts  in  the  light  of  interpreta- 
tion prevailing  at  the  time  in  which  the  work  was 
done.  For  instance,  a  tract  on  feet-washing,  while 
the  double  mode  was  used,  would  be  viewed  differ- 
ently after  the  single  mode  had  become  the  general 
custom.  The  Committee  consisted  of  representa- 
tive men,  and  little  or  no  fault  has  been  found  with 
what  has  been  passed.  That  which  was  not  "  sound 
doctrine  "  has  not  come  into  print,  and  such  tracts 
have  not  been  offered  to  the  public  in  any  other 
manner. 

An  early  rule  of  the  Examining  Comimittee  was 

to  publish  only  tracts  on  those  doctrines  for  which 

the  Church  of  the  Brethren  had  es- 

n  y  o  n  pecially  stood.  The  Committee  rea- 
soned that  other  kinds  of  tracts,  of 
a  general  nature,  could  be  secured  from  various 
sources,  and  there  was  no  need  to  publish  miscella- 
neous ones.  This  narrowed  the  field  to  some  ex- 
tent. The  Book  and  Tract  Work  was  organized 
during  a  period  when  close  denominational  lines 
were  drawn,  when  many  debates  and  discussions 

135 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

over  differences  of  interpretation  of  the  Bible  were 
being  held  with  representatives  of  other  denomina- 
tions. The  call  for  what  might  be  termed  "  evan- 
gelistic tracts "  was  comparatively  small. 

During  the  last  twenty  years  there  has,  come  a 
great    change    in    sentiment,    and    the 

-,,  demand  has  been  stronger  for  tracts 

Change  .  ,.     .  ^  „. 

of  an  evangelistic  nature.  Discus- 
sions are  fewer.  Daniel  Vaniman's  motto,  at  the  be- 
ginning of  his  tract,  "  The  House  We  Live  In," 
namely,  "Don't  pull  other  people's  houses  down; 
build  a  better  one  by  the  side  of  theirs  and  invite 
them  over,"  had  a  great  influence  upon  the  minds  of 
the  thoughtful.  And  instead  of  debate  and  dispute 
there  has  been  the  spirit  of  love  and  kindness, — a 
seeking  in  how  much  there  is  agreement.  This  has 
brought  the  need  of  evangelistic  tracts  to  the  fore, 
and  by  degrees  they  are  coming  into  use. 

Before  closing  this  chapter,  a  list  of  tracts  adver- 
tised  for  circulation  in  1894,  when  the  Book  and 

Tract  Work  ceased  as  a  separate  in- 
Tracts  in  1894    stitution,  is  given,  so  as  to  compare 

with  the  list  put  forth  in  1887.  The 
catalogue  lists  the  following  tracts  and  pamphlets : 

Class  C 

Tracts,   Revised  and   Improved 
No.  Per  Hundred 

1.  The  Brethren  or  Dunkards,  $1.50 

2.  Path  of  Life,  4.00 

6.  Single  Immersion,  1.00 

8.  Trine  Immersion  Traced  to  the  Apostles,   6.00 

9.  Christian   Baptism 2.00 

12.  Ten  Reasons  for  Trine  Immersion,  1.25 

136 


Separate  Endeavor 

15.  Salvation   or   Safe   Ground,    $2.00 

16.  The  Sabbath  or  the  Lord's  Day,   2.50 

17.  Secret  Societies  Incompatible  with  Christianity,  . .   1.50 

Class  D 
Tracts  in  This  Class,  at  60c  per  100,  Contain  Eight  Pages. 
1.  House  We  Live  In, 60 

3.  Come,  Let  Us  Reason  Together,   60 

4.  The  Atoning  Blood  of  Christ, 40 

5.  Intemperance,    60 

6.  Plain   Dressing,    60 

7.  Which  Is  the  Right  Church?   60 

8.  House  We  Live  In  (Swedish),   40 

9.  House  We  Live  In  (Danish), 40 

10.  Design  in  Baptism, 40 

11.  What  Shall  We  Do  with  the  Commandments  of 
Jesus,   40 

12.  Christian    Giving 40 

13.  The   Lighthouse,    60 

14.  Close  Communion  Examined 40 

15.  Christian  Salutation, 60 

16.  Modern  Skepticism,   60 

17.  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music  in  Worship, 60 

21.  House  We  Live  In  (German), 40 

22.  The  Prayer  Covering 60 

23.  The  Lord's  Supper 60 

28.  The  Bible  Service  of  Feet-washing, 60 

29.  Communion,     60 

30.  Are  Christians  Allowed  to  Swear? 40 

Class  E 

4.  Why  Am  I   Not  a  Christian?    20 

6.  Christ  and  War 20 

15.  Gold  and  Costly  Array 20 

16.  The  Brethren's  Card,  20 

For  a  table  of  the  members  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee and  each  one's  term  of  service  see  Appendix  A. 
For  a  brief  biographical  sketch  see  the  biographical 
section  of  this  book. 

137 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

As  early  as  1889  a  petition  came  to  Conference, 
asking  that  the  "  General  Church  Erection  and  Mis- 
.         sionary  Committee  and  the  Book  and 
Desired  Tract    Work    be    controlled    by    one 

Committee;  and  that  the  soliciting  be 
done  by  one  solicitor."  It  was  apparent  that  two 
sets  of  workers  in  the  same  congregation  was  bring- 
ing confusion.  To  the  petition  was  given  this  an- 
swer: 

Annual  Meeting  deems  it  best  to  postpone  the  question 
of  merging  the  above  Committees  into  one  until  the  ques-. 
tion  of  transferring  the  Publishing  interests  to  the  Gen- 
eral Brotherhood  is  determined.  In  the  meantime  we 
think  it  proper  to  have  one  set  of  solicitors  if  the  churches 
prefer. 

Later  the  same  question  of  consolidation  came 
up,  and  in  1891  the  Committee  appointed  reported 
a  plan  to  consolidate,  and  deferred  its  passage  till 
1893.  At  this  Conference  the  two  were  merged  into 
a  new  Committee  and  the  history  of  the  Tract 
Work  will  be  followed  further,  under  the  history  of 
the  new  organization. 


138 


VII. 

Bineteen  geat$  of  0ii$0fons  in  3lnDia 

1894  to  1913 

THE  opening  of  a  mission  in  some  new  foreign 
field  is  no  small  task.     That  task  increases 
rapidly  when  the  members  of  a  Missionary 
Board, — thoughtful  and  prayerful  as  they  may  be, — 
are  themselves  strangers  to  the  land  in  question.    The 
how,  the  where,  and  the  "wherewith," 

„  ew  le  usually  are  perplexing  to  the  wisest. 
Perplexing  ^     ,         r  ■ 

Doubts,  fears,  caution,  prudence,  and 

wisdom  all  help  to  retard  progress, — not  that  the  mem- 
bers of  a  Mission  Board  are  anti-missionary  but  that 
they  are  not  sure  of  the  way.  Then  God  works, 
too ;  perhaps  not  so  much  in  this  delay  as  in  work- 
ing through  other  hearts  and  minds  more  hopeful 
and  trustful, — through  those  who  would  rush  in 
where  those  of  larger  experience  hesitate  to  go,  and 
finally,  through  much  travail  of  soul  and  amidst 
many  questionings,  a  great  new  work  in  a  new  mis- 
sion field  is  decided  upon. 

The  General  Mission  Board  never  undertook  an 
important  step  hastily ;  and  to  that  very  fact,  per- 
haps, is  due  the  substantial  growth  of 

Board  Not  .u         •     •  4.  n 

J,  the  missionary  movement,  as  well  as 

her  hearty  support  in  the  Brother- 
hood. 

139 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Unusual  interest  clustered  around  the  meeting  of 
the  Committee  October  4,  1892.     It  had  been  noised 
about  a  little  that  at  this  meeting  the 
^"^^  ^o?*"^"    ^"^i^c^  °^  I"^^^  Missions  was  to  be 
Support  considered.     The     record     says:     "At 

this  point  J.  H.  Moore  and  Sister  D. 
L.  Miller  came  in,  to  be  present  at  the  discussion 
of  the  India  Mission  question,  and  the  Board 
dropped  unfinished  business  and  proceeded."  The 
members  of  the  Board  at  this  meeting  were  D.  Van- 
iman,  D.  L.  Miller,  J.  L.  Miller,  J.  W.  Price  and  L. 
'A.  Plate.  What  the  speeches  were,  pro  and  con, — 
if  there  were  any  "  cons," — perhaps  is  forgotten. 
What  the  Board  had  before  them,  and  were  prayer- 
fully weighing,  is  reflected  in  this  record :  "  Brother 
Wilbur  B.  Stover  presented  a  proposition  to  go  to 
India  as  a  missionary."  The  Waynesboro  congrega- 
tion of  Pennsylvania  was  in  mind  and  pocketbook 
standing  behind  Brother  Stover's  offer,  to  the  extent 
of  assuring  the  Board  of  about  $800  towards  his  sup- 
port. 

Wilbur  B.  Stover,  at  this  time,  was  a  young  man 
of  twenty-five  summers,  full  of  vim  and  with  many 
missionary  possibilities  wrapped  up  in 
First  Applicant  him  undeveloped.  Waynesboro  con- 
gregation, knowing  his  parentage, 
and  herself  always  aggressive  in  evangelistic  ways, 
took  afire  by  Brother  Stover's  missionary  idea, 
which  had  been  born  into  his  heart  while  in  school 
at  Mt.  Morris,  the  years  just  previous.  While  an 
active  and  stirring  member  of  the  church.  Brother 
Stover  had  not  yet  seen  the  need  of  conforming 

140 


Missions  In  India 

in  every  part  to  the  order  in  dress.  But  now,  that 
he  was  offering  himself  as  an  ambassador  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
in  foreign  lands,  this  naturally  became  an  impor- 
tant issue  in  his  appointment.  Hence  one  is  not 
surprised  to  read  the  action  of  the  Committee,  at 
the  close  of  its  deliberations:  "That,  in  view  of 
the  proposition  made  by  the  Waynesboro  congre- 
gation, to  assist  in  sending  Brother  Wilbur  B.  Sto- 
ver as  a  missionary  to  India,  the  Committee  agrees 
to  send  him  on  the  following  conditions :  First,  that 
he  conforms  fully  to  the  order  of  the  church  in  dress. 
Second,  that  he  agrees  to  remain  at  least  five  years, 
subject  to  and  under  the  direction  of  the  General 
Mission  Board."  The  Foreman,  Daniel  Vaniman, 
was  to  write  fully  and  explain  the  conditions,  while 
the  Secretary  hastened  to  the  telegraph  office  to 
send  this  message,  "  Go  this  fall  on  conditions.  Let- 
ter explaining  coming  from  Vaniman." 

Brother  Stover  was,  at  the  time,  pastor  of  the 

congregation    at    Germantown,    Pennsylvania,    and 

the  Committee,  not  unmindful  of  what 

-,  ^         the  loss   would    mean    to    that    little 

Congregation  ,  •  r    ,       t.       i 

mother  congregation  of  the  Brother- 
hood, in  taking  away  her  pastor,  "recommended 
that  G.  N.  Falkenstein,  of  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  take 
his  place."  Thus  ended  the  deliberations  of  the 
first  Committee  meeting  on  the  India  Mission  ques- 
tion. 

For  some  reason  Brother  Stover  did  not  go.  Had 
he  gone  at  this  time,  perhaps  he  would  have  had  to 
go  alone ;  for  there  was  no  one  ready  to  go  with  him. 

141 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Perhaps  an  Unseen  Hand  blocked  the  way.     Any- 
how,  at   the   Committee  meeting   in  January,    1893, 
"Brother   Vaniman   reported   he    was 
Did  Not  Go       unable  to  give  any  definite  reason  why 
Brother  Stover  failed  to  go." 
At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Committee,  held  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1893,  called,  perhaps,  on  account  of  a  crit- 
ical situation  at  Washington,  D.  C, 

Others  « ..u  j.-  c 

.  ,  the  question  of  openmg  up  a  mis- 

sion in  India  came  before  the  Board 
in  the  form  of  Albert  and  Alice  Vaniman,  of  Mc- 
Pherson,  Kansas,  offering  themselves  to  go  to 
heathen  lands,  wholly  under  the  control  of  the 
Board."  The  Board  did  not  act  hastily.  After  a 
,  long  discussion  it  decided  to  adjourn  till  morning 
and  each  member  was  instructed  "  in  the  meantime 
prayerfully  to  consider  the  question."  Upon  con- 
vening the  next  morning  "  it  was  decided  to  accept 
Brother  Albert  W.  and  Sister  Alice  Vaniman  as 
missionaries  to  India,"  and  at  once  publish  in  the 
Gospel  Messenger  the  following  "official  call" : 

The  Opening  of  an  India  Mission 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Missionary  Committee, 
February  28,  the  pressing  need  of  a  mission  in  India  was 
presented,  and  after  prayerful  and  careful  consideration, 
the    Committee   decided   on   the   following: 

1.  That  steps  be  taken  towards  opening  a  mission  in 
India. 

2.  That  Brother  Albert  W.  and  Sister  Alice  Vaniman, 
having  offered  themselves  to  labor  in  a  foreign  field, 
wholly  under  the  control  of  the  Committee,  their  appli- 
cation was  accepted. 

3.  That  the   Committee  desires  to  send  another  suita- 

142 


Missions  In  India 

ble  brother  and  his  wife,  or  a  brother,  or  a  sister,  as  cir- 
cumstances direct,  to  accompany  them. 

4.  That  the  Committee  will  need  means  to  carry  on  this 
work,  and  now  calls  upon  the  Brotherhood  for  contribu- 
tions. It  is  necessary,  to  carry  out  the  present  plans, 
that  sufficient  funds  or  a  guarantee  for  the  same,  be  in 
the  hands  of  the  Committee  by  Annual  Meeting. 

5.  That  the  Board  proposes  to  have  the  missionaries 
sail  about  October  1,  1893. 

6.  That  all  money  for  this  work  should  be  designated 
as  "  India  Missions  "  and  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Com- 
mittee, Mt.  Morris,  Illinois. 

7.  That  the  Committee  suggests  that  all  the  churches 
and  Sunday-schools  in  the  Brotherhood  hold  special  col- 
lections for  this  work  on  the  first  Sunday  in  May,  or  as 
near  that  time  as  convenient.  There  will  also  be  an  op- 
portunity to  contribute  at  Annual  Meeting. 

8.  That  applications  with  full  particulars  from  mem- 
bers desiring  to  accompany  Brother  and  Sister  Vaniman, 
should  be  in  writing  and  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary 
no  later  than  time  of  Annual  Meeting. 

9.  That  the  following  are  the  qualifications  for  mis- 
sionaries: 

(a)  They  must  be  sound  in  the  faith. 

(b)  They  must  be  willing  to  submit  themselves  wholly 
under  the   control  and  advice   of  the   Committee. 

(c)  They  must  be  able  and  willing  to  teach  and  defend 
the  principles  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  doctrines  and  pecul- 
iarities of  the  church,  as  defined  and  applied  by  Annual 
Meeting  and  must  manifest  the  same  in  their  conversation, 
life  and  character.  If  married,  the  missionary  must  have 
a  wife  who  is  to  him  a  true  helpmeet,  possessing,  so  far 
as  may  be,  similar  qualifications,  and  who  is  ever  ready 
to  carry  forward  the  Lord's  work. 

(d)  The  Committee  agrees  that  such  missionaries  shall 
be  furnished  steady  employment,  so  long  as  they  prove 
to  be  the  right  members  in  the  right  place,  and  while 
thus  employed  they  shall  be  supported.     An  itemized  re- 

143 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

port  of  expenses  is  to  be  submitted   to  the   Committee 
quarterly,  by  all  missionaries  in  their  employ. 

The  above  is  to  be  signed  by  both  the  Committee  and 
those  who   go.  By  Order  of  the  Board, 

Daniel  Vaniman,  Foreman. 

At  the  next  meeting',  May  21,  1893,  endowment 
notes  as  well  as  a  special  India  fund  were  authorized, 

but  the  India  Mission  question  proper 
Deferred  was  deferred  until  the  July  meeting. 

At  this  meeting  the  subject  was  again 
deferred,  this  time  because  "  of  the  decision  of  the 
last  Annual  Meeting."  The  decision  referred  to 
asks  for  a  change  of  Art.  10,  1892,  which  granted 
that  an  elder  and  his  wife  may  be  sent  to  Europe 
every  three  years,  but  stipulates  "  that  no  brother 
or  sister  be  sent  to  foreign  countries  to  do  mission- 
ary or  church  work  without  first  obtaining  a  favor- 
able assent  of  the  local  District  in  which  they  live, 
.  .  .  the  consent  of  Standing  Committee  and  the  ap- 
proval of  Annual  Meeting." 
At  the  October  meeting  the  sentiment  came  so 

strong    that    reconsideration    of    the 
Pressure  India  Mission  question  was  taken  up 

and  the  following  decided  upon: 

In  view  of  the  pressure  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
committee,  it  was  decided  to  open  a  mission  in  India;  to 
send  two  brethren  and  their  wives;  for  the  present  to 
send  ministers  only;  after  some  deliberations,  on  appli- 
cation of  Brother  Stover  and  wife,  .  .  .  decided  to  inves- 
tigate more  fully  their  qualifications  as  missionaries  to 
India;  to  recommend  A.  W.  Vaniman  and  Alice  Vani- 
man, his  wife,  as  missionaries  to  India  to  our  next  Annual 
Meeting. 

144 


Missions  In  India 

Great  care  seems  to  have  been  necessary,  for  at 
the  meeting  of  January,  1894,  still  further  investiga- 
tions were  directed  towards  Brother  Stover,  his  ac- 
ceptance still  being  deferred.  But  the  clouds  were 
steadily  lifting,  and  had  all  disappeared  by  the  next 
meeting. 

The  Committee  was  in  session  May  24,  1894,  at 

Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania,  and  it  was  decided  to 

'  have  "  A.  W.  Vaniman  and  wife,  W. 

■c,^  ^  •      ^         B.  Stover  and  wife,  and  Bertha  Ryan, 
rLxpenences  •'  . 

appear  before  the  Committee  at  its 
meeting  on  Sunday  next,  if  they  are  here."  At 
this  appointed  meeting  each  one  gave  an  expression 
of  his  feeling  and  convictions  about  going  to  for- 
eign lands.  The  season  was  such  a  spiritual  out- 
break that  the  Committee  decided  to  have  the  same 
experience  repeated  before  the  Standing  Committee 
on  Monday  morning.  After  the  withdrawal  of  the 
applicants  the  Committee  passed  the  following: 

Decided  to  present  the  following  to  Standing  Commit- 
tee: Brother  W.  B.  StOiver  and  Sister  Mary  Stover,  his 
wife,  of  Waynesboro,  Pennsylvania,  Brother  A.  W.  Vani- 
man and  Alice  Vaniman,  his  wife,  of  Topeka,  Kansas,  and 
Sister  Bertha  Ryan,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  having  been  prop- 
erly recommended  by  their  respective  churches,  and  hav- 
ing been  examined  by  the  Standing  Committee  and  the 
General  Missionary  and  Tract  Committee,  as  applicants 
for  the  India  Mission  field,  are  considered  suitable  for 
the  work.  Therefore,  we  hereby  recommend  them  to  An- 
nual Meeting  for  approval,  with  the  understanding  that 
for  the  present  the  Missionary  Committee  will  send  only 
three  of  them. 

Thus  all  five  were  approved  by  Standing  Commit- 
tee and  approved  by  Conference.    It  was  a  new  ex- 

145 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

perience    for   the    Standing    Committee.     Perhaps    a 
few  seemed  a  little  critical,  as  they  manifested  con- 
cern   for   the   church   beinsf   properly 
New  to  Stand-  ^  j    u  .  •  u  It. 

ing   Committee  J'epresented,  but  m  every  bosom  there 

throbbed  a  heart  of  sympathy  and  a 
feeling  of  joy  that  in  the  church  should  be  found 
such  self-sacrificing  members.  Some  noble  views 
were  taken  by  a  few  of  the  older  brethren.  As  an  il- 
lustration, there  was  Ephraim  Stoner,  who  said  of 
Brother  Stover,  in  a  letter  to  the  Mission  Rooms, 
during  the  period  of  the  Committee's  investigation 
of  his  fitness,  "  True,  Brother  Stover  does  some 
things  I  would  rather  he  would  not  do;  but  he  is 
willing  to  do  one  thing  I  am  not, — that  is,  to  go  to 
India."  Such  a  view  of  a  young  man's  possibilities 
is  worth  preserving  as  an  example  for  others  to  fol- 
low. 

.  At  the  close  of  the  Conference  the 

.      ^,  following  communication  from  Bro- 

ther  and  Sister  Vaniman  was  handed 
to  the  Committee: 

To  the  Mission   Board: — 

Whereas,  it  has  been  decided  to  select  three  of  the  five 
applicants  for  the  India  Mission,  we  present  to  you  the 
following  for  your  consideration:  Being  much  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  our  church  opening  a  mission  in 
India,  we  offered  ourselves  for  the  work,  willing  to  be 
used  if  the  Lord  should  so  direct,  and  while  all  the  ap- 
plicants are  much  interested  in  the  work,  we  feel  to  say 
to  the  Committee  that  any  former  decision  of  yours,  in 
our  case,  should  in  no  wise  be  a  barrier  to  yo.ur  full  and 
free  action  in  the  matter  now,  and  we,  in  accordance  with 
the  Scripture  which  says,  "In  honor  preferring  one  an- 
other," cheerfully  accord  the  preference  to.  Brother  and 

146 


Missions  In  India 

Sister  Stover  and  Sister  Ryan.  This  is  further  based 
upon  the  following  consideration:  Brother  Stover  was 
the  first  applicant.  The  church  at  Topeka  needs  our  serv- 
ices. Praying  that  the  Lo.rd  may  guide  the  Board  aright, 
in  this  important  and  far-reaching  enterprise,  we  submit 
the  above.  Signed:   A,  W.  Vaniman,  Alice  Vaniman. 

Thus   it  came  to  pass  that  Brother  and  Sister 
Stover  and  Sister  Ryan  became  the  first  mission- 

aries  to  India  for  the  Church  of  the 
Missionaries        Brethren.     At   the   Board's   meeting 

on  September  18,  1894,  it  was  decided 
"  that  the  missionaries  should  go  to  Bombay  and 
try  to  open  up  the  work  there ;  that  $850  be  appro- 
priated for  fares  and  expenses  of  the  trip  for  the 
three;  that  $1,000  be  sent  with  them  to  open  up  the 
work ;  that  the  treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow 
$1,000  for  the  India  fund."  This  last  item  was  nec- 
essary because  the  India  fund  did  not  have  money 
enough  at  its  command,  and  the  needed  amount 
was  borrowed  from  another  fund  for  the  time. 
Concerning  their  departure  the  Gospel  Messenger 

has  an  editorial,  a  part  of  which  will 
Deep  Concern    be  of  interest,  as  showing  the  deep 

concern  there  was  on  every  hand  for 
the  young  people: 

Bro.  Stover  and  wife,  and  Sister  Ryan,  our  first  mis- 
sionaries to  India,  are  to  set  sail  at  New  York,  October 
16.  They  have  arranged  to  spend  the  Sunday  before  with 
the  members  at  Philadelphia,  so  as  to  attend  and  enjoy 
their  services.  Several  of  the  members  from  Philadelphia 
will  accompany  them  to  New  York,  and  see  them  aboard 
their  vessel.  Others  will  probably  be  present  to  see  them 
otf.  The  route  selected  takes  them  to  England,  thence,  by 
way  of  Gibraltar,  the  Suez  Canal  and  Red  Sea,  into  the 

147 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 


Stations  where  the  missions  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  are  located  in  India. 


148 


Missions  In  India 

Indian  Ocean.  If  all  goes  well,  they  will  reach  Bombay, 
India,  about  November  6.  The  journey  will  be  a  long 
and  dangerous  one,  and  during  their  sojourn  on  the  great 
deep  they  crave  the  prayers  of  God's  people.  It  is  but 
fitting  that  we  should  remember  them  at  our  family  al- 
tars, as  well  as  in  our  secret  prayers,  and  also  in  our 
public  services.  Let  us  pray  for  their  protection  while 
upon  the  voyage,  and  for  their  safe  arrival  in  their  chosen 
field  of  labor  among  the  heathen. 

They  sailed   from  New  York  on  the  Havel,  and 
had  the  pleasure  of  the  company  of  O.  Perry  Hoo- 
ver and  wife,  who,  at  the  same  time, 
Sailing  were  going  to   Germany  for  educa- 

tional purposes.  On  Saturday,  No- 
vember 24,  1894,  the  party  landed  in  Bombay,  after 
a  pleasant  and  interesting  voyage  and  put  up  at  a 
Parsee  hotel.  On  the  next  day,  Sunday,  they  at- 
tended services  at  an  English  Baptist  church,  and 
through  the  pastor  learned  of  an  English  missionary 
lady,  living  alone,  and  desiring  company.  At  this 
place  the  party  made  its  home  for  several  months. 
Several  days  after  landing  Brother  Stover  was  taken 
down  with  a  severe  attack  of  fever  that  gave  the 
party  great  concern,  but  after  two  weeks  he  was 
out  again,  and  they  resumed  investigations  for  their 
new  location.  This  finally  proved  to  be  at  Bulsar, 
where  the  party  located  on  March  8,  1895.  This 
station,  in  a  sense,  has  grown  to  be  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  mission  in  India. 

In  June,  1895,  the  missionaries  were  commended 

by  the  Board  for  their  economy,  the 

First  Report       action  based  on  a  report  made  to  the 

Board.     In  1896  the  Board's  Annual 

Report  to  Conference  says: 

149 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

The  years  have  been  full  of  experience.  The  mission- 
aries are  acquiring  the  language,  and  becoming  more  fully 
acquainted  with  the  people,  and  the  difficulties  they  have 
to  meet.  Affliction  was  heavy  upon  one  of  them,  but  he 
was  raised  up,  and  is,  with  others,  earnest  in  the  work. 
A  number  have  made  inquiry  concerning  the  faith,  but 
none  have  been  received  into  fellowship.  D.  L.  Miller 
and  his  wife  spent  some  weeks  in  this  field  and  were 
deeply  impressed  with  the  great  need  of  mission  work. 
They  found  the  missionaries  of  one  mind  and  faith  and 
desirous  to  be  in  full  sympathy  and  harmony  with  the 
Brotherhood  at  home. 

Some    difficult    problems    were    confronting  the 

workers  and  Brother  Miller  rendered  the  Board  val- 

.  uable  assistance  in  getting:  some  of 

Difficult  ^,  ^.         1    r        •.        J       .      J 

Problems  these  questions  before  it  understand- 

ingly.  The  intense  heat  of  the  sun 
in  that  country  can  not  be  fully  realized  without 
actual  experience.  In  that  land  a  special  cover  for 
the  head  is  made  to  afford  extra  protection.  In  or- 
der to  meet  the  need  of  protection  for  the  workers, 
the  Board,  at  its  meeting  of  May  20,  1896,  instructed 
Brother  Miller  "  to  say  to  the  missionaries  that  un- 
der existing  circumstances  the  Board  thinks  there 
is  no  violation  of  principle  to  wear  the  plain  sun 
topee."  Other  important  decisions  of  this  meeting 
are  that  "  permission  is  granted  to  start  a  school 
in  the  mission  in  India  when  deemed  best;  and  that 
a  brother  and  wife  and  a  single  sister  be  sent  to 
India." 

Three  young  people  were  selected  and  approved 
by  the  Conference,  but  were  not  permitted  to  go 
on  account  of  health. 

Reinforcements    were    sent,    however,    in    1897, 

150 


Missions  In  India 

when  Conference  confirmed  the  appointment  of  S. 
N.  McCann,  D.  L.  Forney  and  wife, 
Reinforce.  ^^^  EHzabeth  Gibbel.     The  band  in 

India  was  authorized  to  open  an  Or- 
phanage but  to  receive  at  first  not  over  twenty-five 
inmates.  Later  this  was  made  fifty ;  and  still  later 
left  to  the  discretion  of  the  workers  on  the  field. 

The  Annual  Report,  dated  March  31, 1898,  reports 
twenty-four   accessions   by   baptism,   and   the   "Or- 
phanage, with  its  inmates,  a  source 
Twenty-four       ^^  ^^^^  ^        ^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  -^  India." 
xVcccssiotis 

The   question   of   how   rapidly    new 

fields  should  be  occupied,  was,  at  the  May,  1898, 
Board  meeting  referred  to  the  missionaries.  They 
were  instructed  to  organize  for  proper  business 
transactions,  electing  proper  officers,  etc. ;  "  that 
temporal  support  can  not  be  a  consideration  in  re- 
ceiving persons  into  church  membership,  but  that 
the  usual  order  must  be  observed."  This  last  has 
been,  and  always  will  be,  a  perplexing  problem  in 
a  land  where  caste  rules,  and  where  the  breaking 
of  caste  means  to  lose  friends  and  inheritance.  At 
the  October  meeting,  the  same  year,  the  mission- 
aries were  granted  permission  to  employ  native  help 
as  judgment  dictated,  with  the  caution,  "  Believing 
they  will,  in  no  way,  misuse  the  privilege." 

Eighteen  more  were  baptized   during  the   next 
year,  according  to  the  Annual  Report,  March  31, 
1899.     The  forty-five  members  mak- 
ing  ing  of        jj^g  ^p  ^j^g  church  were,  in  national- 
ity, thirty-five  Hindoos,  one  Parsee, 
one  Syrian,  three  Eurasians,  eight  Americans.    The 

151 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

official  force  of  the  congregation  consisted  of  two 
bishops,  one  minister,  one  deacon,  two  lay-evangel- 
ists, one  colporter,  two  day-teachers,  three  Sunday- 
school  teachers.  A  new  station,  Navsari,  was  oc- 
cupied during  the  year.  Three  love  feasts  were 
held  ;  thirty-four  were  in  the  Orphanage.  The  Board, 
at  its  meeting  on  May  15,  decided  that  the  support 
of  each  American  worker  should  be  $200  per  year, 
and  for  each  child  $50  per  year.  This  was  for  food 
and  clothing,  fuel,  light,  and  so  on.  The  bungalow 
was  furnished  rent  free  by  the  Board  to  the  mis- 
sionary. In  response  to  the  appeal  for  more  work- 
ers, the  Board  answered,  "  Because  of  the  urgent 
demand  for  workers  on  the  home  field,  we  think 
it  inadvisable  to  send  more  missionaries  to  foreign 
fields  at  present."  Sister  Ryan  was  granted  a  fur- 
lough of  one  year. 

It  was  during  1900  that  the  awful  famine,  that 
made  such  havoc  in  Western  India,  raged  in  the 
land.  Sister  Ryan  came  home  on  fur- 
Awful  Famine  lough,  and  by  suggestion  wrote  an 
appeal  in  the  Gospel  Messenger.  By 
reason  of  the  pathetic  plea,  there  were  donated,  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  next  fiscal  year,  thousands  of 
dollars  to  help  in  the  relief  of  the  famine  sufferers. 
These  were  strenuous  days  for  the  missionaries, 
but  they  did  their  best  and  were  the  happy  ministers 
of  physical  relief  to  many  of  India's  wretched  and 
poor  ones.  Within  this  year  Brother  McCann  and 
wife  located  at  Ankleshwer  and  Brother  Forney  and 
wife  at  Navsari.  An  Orphanage  building,  the  gift 
of  the   Brotherhood,   was   erected   at   Bulsar,  and 

152 


Missions  In  India 

"about  two  hundred  famine  children  were  being 
cared  for  and  instructed  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord." 
...  Of  the  $15,631,  donated  up  to  April  1,  not  one 
cent  was  used  to  pay  any  clerical  help  or  expense 
in  this  country,  and  none  of  the  missionaries  in  In- 
dia." Eight  thousand  tracts  and  811  copies  of  the 
Bible  or  portions  of  the  same  were  distributed.  The 
Board  extended  Sister  Ryan's  furlough.  At  the 
Conference  of  1900  Adam  Ebey,  Alice  King  (soon 
after  married  to  Brother  Ebey),  and  Eliza  B.  Miller 
were  appointed  to  go  to  India  the  following  fall. 

The  results  of  the  famine  began  to  show  them- 
selves fully  during  1901,  when  about  five  hundred 

orphans    found    admission    into    the 

Some  Famine  ,    ,•  r   n    i  t  i   i 

P      ,  mission  stations  of  Bulsar,  Jalalpor 

and  Ankleshwer.  The  total  amount 
raised  and  sent  to  India  for  famine  relief  was  $26,- 
058.11.  During  the  year  the  Stover  Manufacturing 
Company,  of  Freeport,  Illinois,  donated  a  wind  en- 
gine and  pump  for  use  at  Bulsar.  The  General  Mis- 
sion Board  directed  that  the  three  organized  sta- 
tions form  themselves  into  a  District  and  plan  to 
represent  their  District  at  Annual  Conference  in 
the  regular  way,  and  look  towards  directing,  as  far 
as  thought  best,  the  affairs  of  the  India  church. 

On  October  5,  1901,  Brother  Stover  and  wife 
started  home  on  their  first  furlough,  and  the  follow- 
ing spring,  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsyl- 
First  Furlough  vania,  the  District  of  India  was  first 
represented  on  Standing  Committee 
by  him.  His  furlough  year  was  a  busy  one.  The 
wide-awake  mission  churches,  east  and  west,  called 

153 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

for  a  visit  from  him,  and  his  tour  among  the 
churches  sent  a  thrill  through  the  whole  Brother- 
hood. At  a  juncture  when  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren in  India  was  first  represented  in  the  councils  of 
the  General  Church,  it  may  be  well  to  record  the 
following  table.,  given  to  the  First  District  Meeting 
of  India  on  October  1,  1901: 

Jalal-  Ankle- 
Bulsar     por    shwer 

Ministers   (foreign),   2  1           1 

Deacons   (native),   1 

Village  schools,   3  1           1 

Village   scholars,    75  15 

Colporters    (native) 5  ..           2 

Teachers,  workers  (native),  7  2          3 

Number  of  baptisms  for  year 58  19        56 

Number  of  dismissals 3 

Present  membership,   90  24        63 

Total  membership  in  India,   177 

At  the  Conference  of  1902,  D.  J.  Lichty,  Jesse  Em- 
mert  and  Gertrude  Rowland  were  approved  for  the 
India  field.  Sister  Emmert  was  not 
Famine  Gifts  permitted,  however,  to  sail  till  one 
year  later.  No  report  of  work  for  the 
year  was  received,  but  the  following  summary  of 
contributions  towards  relief  in  the  three  famines, 
endured  in  India,  is  worthy  of  record: 

Famine  of  1897,  $  4,360.12 

Famine  of  1899,  1900,   26,058.52 

Famine  of  1901,  1902 10,836.80 

Total,     $41,255.44 

In  the  beginning  of  1903  Adam  Ebey  and  wife 
opened  up  the  station  of  Dahanu.  They  had  to 
learn  a  new  language, — the  Marathi, — but  at  once 

154 


Missions  In  India 

became  busy  in  the  station,  helping  the  suffering, 
in  a  small  way,  through  medical  work. 

The  minutes  of  the   General   Mission  Board  of 
May  30,  1903,  record  a  rather  touching  scene,  which 

is  given  place  here,  because  precious 
l/r    f-  ^  to    those    who    were    present.      The 

Board,  at  that  time,  consisted  of  D. 
L.  Miller,  L.  W.  Teeter,  A.  B.  Barnhart,  John  Zuck 
and  H.  C.  Early.  At  least  S.  F.  Sanger  and  I.  Ben- 
nett Trout  were  present  also,  as  well  as  L.  H. 
Dickey,  of  Northwestern  Ohio,  who  opened  the 
meeting  with  prayer,  and  then  presented  the  names 
of  S.  P.  Berkebile  and  wife  as  missionaries  to  India, 
their  support  being  pledged  by  their  State  District. 
They  were  accepted  and  then  the  proposed  mission- 
aries that  had  been  approved  by  the  Board, — name- 
ly, "  Mary  N.  Quinter,  I.  S.  Long,  S.  P.  Berkebile, 
Nora  Berkebile,  J.  M.  Blough,  William  H. 
Wertenbaker,  Effie  Showalter,  Sadie  J.  Miller, 
Nora  Arnold,  and  Anna  Detwiler  spoke  in 
the  order  named,"  telling  of  the  experience 
and  convictions  which  led  them  to  this  altar 
of  service.  Then  "  D.  L.  Miller,  S.  F.  Sanger  and 
I.  Bennett  Trout  spoke  very  touchingly  to  the  work- 
ers, after  which  a  number  of  prayers  were  offered 
by  the  missionaries  and  Hymn  235, '  The  Lord  of  the 
Harvest  Calls,'  was  sung."  This  meeting  occurred 
on  Sunday  afternoon,  at  four,  in  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee room  at  Bellefontaine,  Ohio.  For  some  rea- 
son Brother  Wertenbaker  was  not  permitted  to 
carry  out  the  intention  of  that  day.  The  others 
sailed  from  New  York  the  following  fall,  and  the  rein- 

155 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

forcement  brought  great  joy  to  the  little  band  in 
India.  At  the  October  meeting,  feeling  the  great 
need  of  a  physician  in  India,  and  Dr.  O.  H.  Yereman 
having  completed  his  work,  and  being  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Board,  he,  at  the  request  of  the  Gen- 
eral Mission  Board,  joined  the  party  to  India,  with- 
out formal  confirmation  of  the  Conference. 

The  year  1904  witnessed  some  beginnings  that 
have  proved  great  blessings.    Jesse  Emmert,  a  nat- 
ural   mechanic,    whose    talent    had 
Blessed  ^^^^  ^^^^^  developed,  began  industrial 

work  for  the  orphan  boys.  But  he 
needed  a  shop  and  tools,  and  D.  L.  Miller  and  wife, 
who  were  spending  the  year  in  India,  seeing  the 
need,  advanced  $500  towards  getting  this  work  on 
foot.  Dr.  Yereman  was  not  long  on  the  ground 
until  he  opened  a  dispensary  and  began  caring  for 
the  diseased.  D.  J,  Lichty,  located  at  Ankleshwer, 
took  charge  of  the  Orphanage  there,  so  that  Brother 
McCann  could  give  his  time  more  fully  to  evangel- 
istic and  other  work.  The  report  of  Brother  Mc- 
Cann's  labors,  at  this  juncture,  is  inspiring:  "At 
Ahmode,  near  Rajpardi,  on  January  3,  twenty-seven 
Bhils  were  baptized.  On  January  11  we  began  meet- 
ings at  Ahmode,  preaching  from  three  to  five  times 
per  day.  We  closed  on  the  16th,  fifty-seven  being 
baptized  and  eighty-four  enjoying  their  first  love 
feast.  On  the  17th  we  began  meetings  at  Vali,  clos- 
ing on  the  24th  with  fifty-four  baptisms  and  a  love 
feast,  in  which  one  hundred  communed.  Brother 
and  Sister  Stover  joined  us  at  the  close  of  this  meet- 
ing, and  on  the  26th  we  were  all  at  Monguch,  where 

156 


Missions  In  India 

we  preached  daily  until  the  30th,  when  thirteen  were 
baptized  and  a  love  feast  held."  Thus  the  record 
runs,  for,  during  the  year  at  this  station  alone,  in- 
cluding the  outstations,  there  were  241  baptisms, 
and  4,380  sermons  and  talks  were  given  by  native 
workers.  Over  one  thousand  Bibles  and  Scripture 
portions  were  sold.  I.  S.  Long  and  wife  located  at 
Jalalpor  because  D.  L.  Forney  and  wife  were  return- 
ing home  on  sick  furlough.  The  year  was  a  busy 
one.  The  industrial  work  among  the  orphan  boys 
was  good;  the  accessions  to  the  church  were  fifty- 
four. 

At  the  close  of  1904,  having  been  approved  by  the 
Conference  at  Carthage,  Missouri,  a  plendid  rein- 
forcement of  workers  arrived  in  India.  The  party* 
consisted  of  J.  M.  Pittenger  and  wife,  E.  H.  Eby  and 
wife,  A.  W.  Ross  and  wife,  and  S.  P.  Berkebile  and 
wife.  J.  W.  Swigart  had  also  been  approved,  but 
through  sickness  was  called  to  the  field  above  about 
one  month  before  time  to  sail. 

The  most  important  event,  perhaps,  of  1905,  was 

the  final  approval  by  the  General  Mis- 

-_.  .  T,  J  sion  Board,  on  May  30,  of  the  Con- 
Mission  Board  ,  t-,     ,  r    i      t^-      • 

stitution  and  By-laws  of  the  District 

Mission  Board  of  the  First  District  of  India.     It  is 

as  follows : 

Art.  1. — The  Conference  of  the  First  District  of  India 
shall  elect  and  perpetuate  a  Mission  Board,  composed  of 
five  members,  active  as  church  workers  and  faithful  in 
their  church  relation,  vi^hose  term  of  office  shall  be  five 
years,  except  those  first  elected,  one  of  whom  shall  serve 


♦This  list  of  missionaries  does  not  appear  In  the  Conference 
Minutes  of  1904,  and  was  only  accidentally  noted  through 
preparing  Appendix  I. 

157 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

one,  one  two,  one  three,  one  four  and  one  five  years,  to 
be  known  as  the  District  Mission  Board  of  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  of  the  First  District  of  India. 

Art.  2. — The  Mission  Board  shall  organize  by  electing 
a  Chairman,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  and  shall  hold 
four  regular  meetings  each  year.  Special  meetings  may  be 
called  by  the  Chairman  and  Secretary,  or  by  any  three 
members  of  the  Board,  by  giving  not  less  than  five  days' 
notice.  Four  members  of  the  Board  shall  constitute  a 
quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

Art.  3. — Duties,  (a)  The  Chairman  shall  preside  at  the 
meetings  of  the  Board  and  shall  perform  such  other  du- 
ties as  shall  devolve  upon  such  officer,  (b)  The  Secretary 
shall  keep  careful  record  of  all  the  business  transacted 
by  the  Board,  attend  properly  to  all  necessary  corre- 
spondence, and  perform  such  other  duties  as  shall  devolve 
upon  him.  He  shall  also  make  an  annual  report  to  the 
District  Conference,  and  to  the  General  Mission  Board,  of 
the  work  done  in  the  field  by  the  missionaries  and  their 
helpers,  (c)  The  Treasurer  shall  have  charge  of  all  the 
money  coming  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee  and  shall 
deposit  it  in  such  bank  or  banks  as  it  may  indicate,  and 
shall  pay  out  money  only  by  order  of  the  Committee. 
He  shall  take  vouchers  for  sums  disbursed  and  shall  make 
an  annual  report  to  the  District  Mission  Board  and  to 
the  General  Mission   Board. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  District  Mission  Board: 

1.  To  select  new  mission  stations  and  to  locate  and 
relocate  missionaries. 

2.  To  select  all  native  workers  after  carefully  testing 
them  as  to  their  moral  and  mental  qualifications  and 
faithfulness   to  the   church. 

3.  To  distribute  tracts  and  printed  matter  helpful  to 
the  cause  of  missions,  to  introduce,  whenever  possible, 
the  publications  of  the  Brethren  Publishing  House,  and 
to  have  native  Sunday-schools  organized  wherever  pos- 
sible. 

4.  To  arrange  to  start  village  schools  wherever  and 
whenever  practicable,  and,  with  the  help  of  the  missionary 

158 


Missions  In  India 

in  whose  charge  they  will  be,  to  select  teachers  for  them. 

5.  To  recommend  to  the  General  Mission  Board  mis- 
sionaries for  furloughs  and  vacations  to  visit  the  home- 
land. 

6.  To  fill  vacancies  on  the  Mission  Board,  but  only  for 
the  time,  until  the  next  District  Conference  following 
such  vacancies. 

7.  To  prepare  a  uniform  scale  of  support  for  all  na- 
tive workers,  which  shall  not  be  changed  without  con- 
sent of  the  Mission  Board,  or  by  action  of  the  District 
Conference. 

8.  To  solicit  and  receive  government  aid  for  schools 
and  other  work,  donations,  bequests  and  endowments 
from  individuals  and  churches  in  India,  as  provided  for 
by  Annual  Conference  of  the  churches  in  America.  All 
soliciting  in  America  to  be  done  by  the  approval  of  the 
General  Mission  Board. 

9.  To  make  o.ut  annually,  before  January  10  of  each 
year,  a  carefully-prepared  estimate  of  money  needed  for 
carrying  on  the  mission  work  in  India  for  the  year  be- 
ginning about  twelve  months  from  January  10,  and  submit 
the  same  to  the  General  Mission  Board  in  America  for 
action, 

10.  To  withdraw  support  from  any  missionary  or  native 
worker  unwilling  to  work  in  harmony  with  the  rules  of 
the  Church,  or  of  the  Mission  Board,  as  herein  defined. 

11.  To  keep  the  expenditures  within  the  funds  in  hands. 

12.  To  observe  the  following  order  of  business  in  their 
meetings: 

(a)  Devotional  exercises. 

(b)  Reading  minutes  of  last  meeting. 

(c)  Report  of  committees. 

(d)  Unfinished  business. 

(e)  New  business. 

(f)  Miscellaneous  business. 

(g)  Approval  of  minutes  of  present  session, 
(h)  Adjournment  with  prayer. 

Art.  4.  Amendments  may  be  made  to  the  Constitution 
and  By-laws  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  District  Confer- 

159 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ence  and  the  approval  of  the  General  Mission  Board,  and 
such  proposed  amendments  shall  come  either  from  a  local 
church  or  the  District  Mission  Board. 

The  Annual  Report  for  1905  says:  "Possibly  the 
most  important  work  of  the  year  was  the  erection 

of  the  Waterloo  building  for  girls. 
Qj  ,  With  this  additional  building  of  225 

feet,  the  girls  have,  for  the  first  time, 
sufficient  and  comfortable  room  for  living  purposes 
and  also  for  school  room,  besides  furnishing  rooms 
for  Sister  Miller,  who  now  lives  in  the  new  building 
next  to  the  school-room.  Could  the  Waterloo 
church.  Northern  Iowa,  see  the  improvement  that 
has  been  brought  about  by  their  liberality,  they  sure- 
ly could  not  regret  having  done  this  much  for  the 
India  orphans,"  The  station  Vali, — postoffice 
Umalla, — was  opened  this  year  by  D.  J.  Lichty  and 
wife. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Mission  Board, 

held  on  May  28,  1906,  many  items  vital  to  India 

were  decided  upon.  D,  L.  Miller  had 
Vital  Items  ,  ,   .  ,  .  ,  j     •  •.  • 

Decided  Upon    returned  from  his  prolonged  visit  in 

India  and  "  reported  on  conditions." 
It  was  decided  "  that  the  time  limit  of  service  of 
a  foreign  missionary  shall  be  seven  years  for  the 
first  period,  and  thereafter  nine  years ;  vacations  one 
year  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board."  The  question  of  proper  qualification, 
preparation,  examination,  etc.,  was  referred  to  a 
committee  to  report  at  next  meeting.  It  was  de- 
cided "  that  bungalows  at  Vyara  and  V'ada  he 
granted,  that  $3,000  be  raised  for  a  hospital  fund," 

160 


Missions  In  India 

and  "  that  the  $1,200  for  the  Dahanu  dispensary  be 
transferred  to  Bulsar  for  a  church  and  school  build- 
ing fund."  E.  H,  Eby  and  wife  located  at  Ankle- 
shwer  on  account  of  Brother  McCann  and  wife  tak- 
ing a  furlough.  The  medical  headquarters  was 
moved  to  Bulsar,  while  the  dispensary  work  was 
continued  at  Dahanu,  in  charge  of  J.  M.  Pittenger 
and  wife.  On  January  29,  1906,  Brother  and  Sister 
Berkebile  reached  Vada,  and  opened  up  the  station. 
About  the  same  time  Brother  and  Sister  Ross 
opened  Vyara,  in  Baroda  State. 

From  the  time  the  famine  began  there  were  or- 
phans at  Ankleshwer  and  Jalalpor,  as  well  as  at  Bul- 

sar.  In  compliance  with  a  decision  to 
„  ?    ,  unite  the  Orphanage  work  at  Bulsar, 

Bro.  McCann  brought  his  94  orphan 
boys  to  Bulsar  in  February,  1906.  This  greatly  in- 
creased labor  at  Bulsar,  but  proved  very  economical 
and  beneficial.  Dr.  Yereman,  for  several  reasons, 
withdrew  from  the  field  and  returned  to  America. 
Educational  work  was  receiving  due  consideration 
and  the  following  plan  was  adopted  to  carry  it  for- 
ward: "All  who  pass  the  fifth  government  stand- 
ard and  desire  to  pursue  study  further,  may  do  so 
on  two  conditions :  (1)  That  the  boy  or  girl  is 
worthy.  (2)  That  he  or  she  is  willing  to  say  on  paper 
that  he  (or  she)  desires  to  become  a  mission  worker 
in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren."  Ten  young  men, — 
brethren, — accepted  the  terms,  and  pressed  forward 
for  still  better  preparation  for  the  church.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  Charles  Brubaker,  Ella  Miller 
and  Josephine   Powell,  having  been  approved  by 

161 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Conference,  reached  India,  and  took  up  language 
study. 

The  year    1907  proved  to  be   one  fully  occupied 
with  erecting  bungalows  for  the  missionaries.    The 
force  was  weakened  through  Brother 
b''"1"ows  McCann    and    wife,    Brother    Adam 

Ebey  and  wife,  and  Eliza  B.  Miller 
coming  home  on  furlough.  In  the  changes  follow- 
ing, Brother  and  Sister  Stover  located  at  Ankle- 
shwer,  Chas.  Brubaker  and  wife,  nee  Ella  Miller, 
located  at  Dahanu  to  care  for  Brother  Ebey's  sta- 
tion, E.  H.  Eby  and  wife  opened  up  the  new  station 
of  Jhagadia,  and  J.  M.  Pittenger  and  wife,  on  Jan- 
uary 25,  opened  Ahwa  in  the  Dangs  Forests.  The 
year  was  one  of  much  activity  and  growth. 

The  year  1908,  for  the  most  part,  was  a  steady 
pull  of  work  already  begun.  J.  M,  Blough,  as  editor 
of  the  Gujerati  Quarterly  for  Sunday- 
First  Great  schools,  started  two  years  before, 
pushed  the  periodical  with  vigor.  The 
Orphanages,  started  because  of  the  famine,  uncon- 
sciously were  transforming  themselves  into  board- 
ing schools,  and  needed  wise  handling  from  reli- 
gious and  educational  viewpoints.  The  first  great 
sadness  on  our  foreign  mission  field  came  when 
word  was  received  that  Adam  Ebey  and  wife  lost 
by  death  two  of  their  children.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  Ida  Himmelsbaugh,  the  first  nurse  on  the  mis- 
sion field,  and  Kathryn  Ziegler,  arrived  and  entered 
upon  their  duties. 

For  the  purpose  of  developing  the  native  church 
in  1909,  an  India  District  Mission  Board  was  or- 

162 


Missions  In  India 

ganized,  the  organization  to  be,  in  the  main,  composed 
of  natives  and  yet  under  the  supervision  of  the 
India  Mission  American  workers.  The  natives  have 
Board  taken  hold  and,  of  their  small  means, 

have  given  liberally  towards  support- 
ing one  of  their  own  number  in  the  mission  field. 

In  1910  the  basis  of  support  was  changed  to  the 
following : 

Adult,  women, — fi'rst  three  years,  $250;  next  five  years, 
$275;  after  that,  $300. 

Adult,  men, — first  three  years,  $275;  next  five  years, 
$300;   thereafter,  $350. 

Children,  $50  per  year  till  six  years  old;  $75  till  ten 
years;  then  $100  till  eighteen  years  old,  when  support 
ceases. 

This  did  not  prove  satisfactory,  and  in  April,  1912, 
the  support  was  made  uniform,  $300  per  year  for 
adults;  $75  for  children  till  8,  then  $150  till  18  years 
old. 

Annual  Conference  gave  permission  to  the  Board 

to  "aid  in  its  missions  by  developing  such  indus- 

.        trial  lines  as  seems  prudent  to  the 

_.       '  Board."    Within  the  year  Pimpalner 

was  opened  by  I.  S.  Long  and  wife. 

On  October  20,  1910,  after  some  weeks  of  enteric 

fever,  in  its  most  virulent  form,  Charles  H.  Bru- 

baker  died  and  was  buried  on  the  mountain  side  near 

Landour,  Mussoorie,  far  to  the  north  of  India  in  the 

Himalayas.     This   was  the    first    death    in   the    rank 

and  file  of  the  workers  since  the  mission  was  opened 

in  India,  in  1894.    The  blow  was  a  heavy  one.   The 

worker  was  needed.    The  station  after  this  remained 

163 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

closed  for  nearly  two  years  because  there  was  no  one 
ready  to  occupy  Vada,  thus  suddenly  closed.  Ida 
Shumaker  arrived  on  the  field  near  the  close  of  the 
year,  and  took  hold  with  that  vim  so  characteristic 
of  her  life. 

The  years  from  now  on  have  been  full  of  devel- 
oping what  had  been  begun  and  recited  in  the 
former  pages.  The  native  church 
Development  needed  fostering  and  the  missiona- 
ries at  each  station  were  busy  during 
1911,  caring  for  the  work  in  hand.  The  330  acces- 
sions, during  the  year,  indicated  a  strong  growth 
numerically.  I.  S.  Long  and  wife  began  their  fur- 
lough at  this  time,  and  reinforcements  to  the  al- 
ready hard-pressed  forces  arrived, — ^J.  I.  Kaylor  and 
wife  and  Q.  A.  Holsopple  and  wife.  In  1912  a  board- 
ing school  was  authorized  and  opened  at  Vyara,  a 
new  feature  for  that  station.  E.  H.  Eby  and  family 
and  W.  B.  Stover  and  family  next  returned  to  the 
homeland  on  furlough.  Brother  Eby's  family  was 
detained  because  of  sickness,  and  he  did  not  take 
his  furlough  on  time.  Brother  Stover's  were  home 
aften  ten  years'  service,  still  hale  and  hearty,  and 
ready  for  service. 

In  the  fall  of  1912  Herman  B.  Heisey  and  his  wife, 
Anna  Eby  and  S.  Olive  Widdowson  arrived  to  enter 
upon  language  study  and  mission  work. 

At  the  Conference  of  1913  A.  Raymond  Cot- 
trell  and  wife,  both  graduate  physicians,  S.  Ira 
Arnold  and  wife,  and  B.  Mary  Royer  were  approved 
for  India,  and  will  sail  about  November  1,  to  enter 
upon  their  labors.    This  will  but  reinforce  the  staff 

164 


Missions  In  India 

to  try  to  keep  territory  already  occupied,  and  does 
not  enable  the  mission  to  enlarge. 

In  the  several  stations  of  the  India  Mission,  ed- 
ucational work  has  assumed  proportions  and  impor- 
tance most  desirable.  The  desire,  on 
Educational  the  part  of  the  few  natives  here  and 
there,  who  want  an  education,  is  so 
great  that  they  will  cast  aside  their  castes  in  order 
to  receive  the  training;  and  in  the  village  schools, 
under  the  direction  of  Christian  teachers,  may  be 
seen  as  many  as  seventeen  different  castes. 

In  medical  lines  every  station,  nearly,  conducts 

dispensary  work.     Dahanu  has  developed  a  large 

field  of  usefulness,  and  through  this 

Medical  means  is  reaching  the  hearts  of  the 

people   steadily.     Others   are   doing 

well  also. 

Industrial  work  has  made  a  splendid  record  in 
the  mission.     Its  headquarters  has  been  at  Bulsar, 
where,     under    the    supervision     of 
Industrial  Brother  Emmert,  lines  of  carpentry, 

weaving,   and    other   industries,    are 
followed.     The  native  is  taught  a  trade  to  make  a 
living,  and  while  learning  his  trade,  is  paying  his 
way  through  the  school.    The  products  do  credit  to 
the  industrial  department,  and,  on  the  whole,  find 
a  ready  sale.     At  Vyara  and  Vali  this  industrial 
feature  is  applied  to  farming  with  similar  success. 
In  no  avenue  does  mission  work  show  itself  more 
effectual,  in  directly  building  up  the  church,  than  in 
the  Sunday-school  movement.     The 
,     ,  heathen  are  glad  to  study  the  Sunday- 

school  lesson  so  carefully  as  to  take 

165 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

a  written  examination.  Sunday-school  pupils  be- 
longing to  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  have  been 
awarded  some  of  the  first  prizes  given  for  the  "  All 
India  examination  on  the  Sunday-school  Lessons." 

Of  course  each  station  carries  on  well-developed 
and  systematic  evangelistic  labors ;  and  as  the  na- 
tive is  instructed  properly,  and  de- 
Evangelistic  veloped  in  the  Christ-life  to  the  point 
at  which  the  mission  feels  at  liberty 
to  recognize  his  fitness,  he  is  received  into  church 
membership.  Then  comes  the  work  of  shepherding, 
in  a  manner  not  understood  on  the  home  base. 
Then  it  is  that  the  mission  begins  to  teach  them  the 
"  all  things  "  so  needful  in  their  lives  and  character. 
Church  discipline,  of  necessity,  must  be  on  a  differ- 
ent basis.  More  teaching  is  required.  The  mission- 
aries have  a  great  task  before  them. 

Besides  these  regular  lines,  some  of  the  stations 
give  considerable  attention  to  temperance,  so  need- 
ful here  as  elsewhere. 

The  single  sisters  are  especially  adapted  to  carry 

on    work   among   the   women, — a    most   important 

branch   of  missions  in   India.     Men 

speci    y  press    forward ;    women    hold    back. 

Situated 

And  only  women  can  reach  women. 

So  the  single  sister,  with  a  Bible  woman  or  two, 
goes  forth,  visits  in  the  homes,  tells  the  story  of  re- 
deeming love;  conducts  meetings  especially  for 
women,  and  in  this  manner  is  reaching  a  part  of 
India  that  would  otherwise  not  be  touched. 

In  conclusion,  no  better  view  can  be  taken  of 
the  development  of  the  India  mission,  under  the 

166 


Missions  In  India 

blessing  of  God,  than  the  following  table,  prepared 
by  Eliza  B.  Miller,  and  appearing  at  the  close  of 
the  Annual  Report  of  1912.     It  is  as  follows: 


STAFF 

0) 

(1) 

ID 
>> 

■a 

a 
Q 

to 

Mission 
Station 

c 
be 

'S 
u 
o 
fa 

3, 
a 

++ 
m 

C 
o 

O 

■a 

U3 

o 

-t-t 

a 

•a 
> 

o 

K 

-a 
<v 

c 

o 
CO 

(5 

C 

■J2 

O 

o 

M 

O 
O 

s: 
o 
W 

to 

c 

c 

a 

c 

c 

n1 

.2 

4) 

0) 

(1) 

4) 

6 

6 

Si 

<\1 

S 

■i-i 

5 

■O 

X! 

.Q 

J2 

o 

ta 

»— » 

TS 

'  \ 

X3 

c! 

ti 

c 

g 

a 

B 

s 

E 

rt 

o 

o 

s 

§ 

^ 

§ 

i 

3 
m 

O 

3 

3 

3 
15 

3 

3 

> 

o 

a 

3 

2: 

Bulsar 

2 

10 

3 

1 

1 

177 

1 

7 

10 

8 

1 

63 

2 

45 

14 

Jalalpor,     .  . . 

2 
3 
1 
3 

2 
30 

8 
14 

1 

14 
2 
2 

1 

19 

5 

9 

1 
1 

2 

22 

429 

25 

98 

4 

120 

3 

12 

12 
10 

12 

2 
47 

25 

2 
23 

1 

32 

5 

10 

60 
441 
229 
19fi 

Ankleshwer,  . 

Dahanu,*     ..  . 

Vali  (Umalla) 

Vyara 

1 

19 

2 

12 

1 

272 

lfi7 

5 

5 

12 

148 

1 

58 

Vada,*     

2 
1 

5 

8 

17 

1 

2 

3 
4 
4 

13 
64 

25 

12 

12 

'2 

0 

5 
10 

57 

98 

133 

Ahwa.t     

Pimpalner.t 

1 

12 

Totals,.  . 

8 

15 

113 

27158 

6 

1125 

331 

49IS9I 

331811 

14251 

4|115| 

14 

•  These  two  places  are  yet  counted  in  the  Bulsar  church, 
t  These  two  places  are  in  the  Vyara  church  organization. 
t  Sub-station  means  a  village  place  where  there  is  a  village 
school  or  Christian  work  overseen  by  an  India  Christian. 


167 


We   are   more   than   conquorers   through   him   that   loved   us. — 

Romans  8:  37. 

2   Tim.   2:   3  -A-    good    soldier    of    Jesus    Christ. — Take 

unto    you    the   whole   armour    of   God,    that 

Eph,   6:    13  ye    may    be    able    to    withstand    in    the    evil 

_.        1.   io  day: — that   thou   by   them   mightest   war   a 

lim.   1.   lo  good  warfare. — They  overcame  him  by  the 

Rev     12'    11  blood    of    the    Lamb,    and    by    the    word    of 

their    testimony;    and    they   loved   not   their 

lives    unto    the    death. 
Rev.   1 :   5,   6  Jesus    .    .    .    hath    made    us    kings    and 

priests     unto     God    and     his     Father. — We 
2   Tim.    2:    12  shall    also    reign    with    him. — For    he    saith, 

_        __    _  Are   not  my  princes  altogether  kings? 

lea     in*   n 

"•  "  Whatsoever    is   born    of    God    overcometh 

the  world:  .  .  .  who  is  he  that  overcometh 
the  world,  but  he  that  believeth  that  Jesus 
is  the  Son  of  God? 

Gen.   32:   26    28  ^  '^^"•^  "^^  let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless 

me. — And  he  said,  ...  as  a  prince  hast 
thou  power  with  God  and  with  men,  and 
hast  prevailed. 

Matt.    10:   37-39  He    that    loveth    father    or    mother    more 

than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me:  and  he  that 
loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than  me  is  not 
worthy  of  me.  And  he  that  taketh  not 
his  cross,  and  followeth  after  me,  is  not 
worthy  of  me.  He  that  findeth  his  life 
shall  lose  it:  and  he  that  loseth  his  life 
for  my  sake  shall  find  it. 

2  Cor    2*  14  Now  thanks  be  unto  God,   which  always 

causeth    us    to    triumph    in    Christ: — which 

1    Cor.    15:   57  giveth    us    the    victory    through    our    Lord 

Jesus  Christ. 


1  John  5:  4,  5 


168 


VIII. 

Q^i00ion0  anD  Cract  Di0tributiott  Onder 
SDnt  ^tganj^ation,  1894  to  1913 

THE  year  1894  not  only  marks  the  beginning  of 
the  period  when  the  Mission  and  Tract  Work 
were  united  into  one  organization,  but  also 
the  beginning  of  missionary  activity  on  heathen  soil. 
The  preceding  chapter  tells  about  India  Missions,  and 
this  one  is  devoted  to  an  account  of  all  other  mission- 
ary activities  which  concerned  the  General  Mission 
Board. 

In  1892  the  Conference  granted  permission  "  to 

send  an  elder  to  Denmark  "  every  three  years,  but 

no  special  restrictions  were  thrown 

Certain  about  the  one  to  be  selected.    In  1893 

o      .     ,  Annual  Conference  chang-ed  this  de- 

Required  .  ,  ^,   ,  ^        ° 

cision  so  that  no  brother  or  sister 
be  sent  to  foreign  countries  to  do  missionary  or 
church  w^ork  without  first  obtaining  a  favorable  as- 
sent of  the  local  District  in  which  they  live,  as  to 
their  qualifications ;  then  also  obtain  the  consent  of 
Standing  Committee  and  approval  of  Annual  Meet- 
ing." This  did  not  seem  to  meet  the  mind  of  some 
of  the  church,  for  in  1894  the  following  query  was 
brought  before  Conference: 

In  the  grand  and  noble  effort,  now  under  contemplation 

169 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

by  the  church,  of  extending  the  great  Gospel  work  into 
foreign  mission  fields  for  the  results  of  which  the  Brother- 
hood will  be  responsible,  and  whereas  the  results  largely 
depend  upon  the  fitness  of  the  missionaries  sent,  there- 
fore will  not  this  Annual  Meeting  decide  that  no  brother 
shall  be  eligible  to  a  foreign  mission  field  unless  he  has 
had  at  least  five  years'  experience  in  the  ministry,  or  jiot 
less  than  three  years'  experience  in  frontier  mission  work, 
— "not  a  novice,"  and  let  these  also  be  proved  (First 
Timothy,  third  chapter),  and  that  he  also  is  in  full  sym- 
pathy with  the  general  order  of  the  Brotherhood  on  the 
doctrine  of  nonconformity? 

It  was  the  year  that  W.  B.  Stover  and  wife  and 

Bertha  Ryan  were  being  considered  for  India.    They 

were   young   people, — inexperienced. 

This    decision    would    have   been   a 

xpenence  hard  backset  to  the  budding  promise 

Not  Reqmred      .       ^,.         _,  .,,  ,. 

for  India.     But  aside  from  this,  the 

Conference  viewed  the  query  with  wisdom  and  an- 
swered : 

While  we  favor  experience  and  proficiency  on  the  part 
of  a  missionary,  we  do  not  consider  the  number  of  years 
that  he  has  served  in  the  ministry  as  being  a  matter  of 
importance,   respecting  his   qualifications. 

To   the   same    Conference   came   another   petition, 
asking  that  a  change  of  the  decision  of  1893  be  made, 
so  that  the   consent  of  the  bishops 
rogress  assembled  at  District  Meeting  be  se- 

cured, instead  of  the  District  Meeting 
itself.  This  was  granted,  with  the  understanding 
that  this  should  not  interfere  with  the  present  party 
going  to  India  (Art.  9,  1894).  These  restrictions 
hampered  the  work  of  the  General  Mission  Board 
too  much.    Often  the  missionary  did  not  offer  him- 

170 


One  Organization 

self  until  at  Annual  Meeting  and  then  the  consent 
of  the  bishops  of  the  District  whence  he  came,  could 
not  be  secured,  and  the  missionary  had  to  wait  an- 
other year.     In  1896  the  Conference 

Zf  ^ .    J  declared  that  the  investigation  of  the 

Required 

General  Mission  Board,  with  the  pri- 
vate recommendation  of  three  or  more  bishops  who 
knew  the  applicant,  the  recommendation  of  the  local 
congregation  and  the  approval  of  Standing 
Committee  and  Annual  Meeting  should  be  suffi- 
cient. Since  that  date  all  applicants  have  been 
carefully  examined  by  the  Board  from  a  family,  ed- 
ucational, religious,  church,  doctrinal  and  health 
standpoint.  A  confidential  statement  is  secured 
from  three  or  more  ministers.    A  recommendation 

of  good  standing  in  the  local  con- 
A   Consecration  ^^^g^^j^^   .^  Qi^^^i^ed.     There  is  an 

examination  by  Standing  Committee 
and  the  approval  of  General  Conference.  At 
the  close  of  the  missionary  meeting,  on  Monday 
afternoon,  after  the  offering  is  lifted,  the  missiona- 
ries are  presented  to  the  audience  and  an  ardent 
prayer  of  thanksgiving  for  the  gift  of  money  and 
men,  as  well  as  consecration  of  the  workers  to  the 
respective  fields,  is  offered. 

At  first,  and  for  a  number  of  years,  the  programs 

for  the  Monday  afternoon  Missionary 
A  Program        Meeting  at  Conference  were  modeled 

after  the  following,  which  was  given 
at  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania,  in  1894: 


171 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

D.  Vaniman,  presiding  officer. 

City  Missions  (an  appeal  for  Washington,  D.  C),  H, 
C.  Early. 

The  Foreign  Field,  J.  C.  Murray. 

Duties  of  the  District  Missionary  Committee,  J.  H. 
Moore. 

Importance  of  Tract  Distribution,   Isaac  Frantz. 

Giving,  D.  F.  Stouffer. 

The  Collection  to  be  conducted  by  Jos.  Lahman. 

In  recent  years  but  one  speaker  has  addressed 
the  meeting, — usually  one  of  the  missionaries  home 
on  a  furlough.  His  address,  through 
,  a  reporter,  appeared  in  the  Confer- 

ence report,  and  sometimes  was  is- 
sued in  pamphlet  form  for  general  distribution. 
The  Conference  oflferings  are  an  interesting  study. 
See  Appendix  B. 

Though  the  consolidation  of  the  Mission  and 
Tract  Work  was  approved  in  1893,  it  was  thought 
prudent  not  to  effect  the  union  at  once.  At  the 
close  of  Conference  of  1894,  all  the  books,  tracts, 
mortgages  and  funds  of  the  Book  and  Tract  Work 
were  turned  over  to  the  General  Mission  Board, 
and  shipped  from  Dayton,  Ohio,  to  Mt.  Morris,  111., 
and  from  that  date  forward,  Tract  Distribution  was 
under  the  supervision  of  the  General  Mission  Board. 

Tract  Distribution  from  1894 
Under   the   Book   and   Tract  Work   sisters   and 
brethren   were   employed   to  give  their   entire   time 
to  going  from   city  to  city,  to  dis- 
Tract  Dis-  tribute  tracts  in  a  house-to-house  can- 

vass. The  plan  had  its  advantages ; 
interest  was  quickened,  in  some  instances  Sunday- 

172 


One  Organization 

schools  were  started  by  the  distributers,  and  now 
and  then  a  congregation  of  believers  was  the  result, 
in  part,  of  tract  distribution.  However,  in  many 
instances  there  being  no  minister  to  follow  up  the 
tract  distribution,  the  labor  was  apparently  lost. 
The  Committee  followed  the  policy  of  the  Book  and 
Tract  Work  for  a  few  years,  expending  $4,013.45  in 
that  time,  in  supporting  tract  distributers,  and  then 
discontinued  them,  and  sought  to  reinforce  the  min- 
isterial side  as  much  as  possible. 

It  was  discovered  that  the  idea  of  doctrinal  tracts, 

peculiar  to  the  faith  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 

only,  did  not  meet  the  entire  demand 

Larger  ^^   ^^^  p^^.^   ^^  ^^^   church,   and    in 

June,  1895,  the  Committee  directed 
"  that  we  have  prepared  some  evangelistic  and  doc- 
trinal leaflets :  that  we  have  subjects  announced  in 
the  Gospel  Messenger,  and  writers  urged  to  write 
and  submit  their  manuscripts  to  the  Mission  Rooms  ; 
that  all  articles  for  tracts  be  published  in  the  Gos- 
pel Messenger  before  going  to  the  Examining  Com- 
mittee." This  announcement  brought  a  few  new 
tracts,  but  the  result  was  not  what  had  been  hoped 
for. 

Time  went  on.     Only  a  comparatively  few  tracts 
were  offered  for  approval.     The  Examining  Com- 
mittee,  always    wide-awake    on   the 
More     racts       subject  of  tracts,  met  in  joint  session 

Sought  .    ,  ,  T,r-        .  ^ 

with  the  Missionary  Committee  at 
Conference  in  1901,  and  the  conclusion  of  that  ses- 
sion was  that  again  a  list  of  subjects  should  be  an- 
nounced, and  if  "  there  are  not  sufficient  responses, 

173 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

then  subjects  shall  be  assigned  to  different  writers." 

Further,   "  that   District   Boards   be   urged   to   use 

tracts,   and   that   some   of   our   tracts   be   issued   in 

envelope  size  for  greater  convenience." 

Still  the  results  were  not  what  was  desired.     For 

some  reason  the  tracts  were  not  in  demand,  even 

as  a  free  gift  to  many  churches  and 

-,^^"?  individuals.     In    the   latter   part   of 

Revision  ^^^^  .  ,  .  ^    ,  . 

1906  a  special  committee  on  revision 

of  tracts,  so  as  to  make  them  appeal  to  general  use, 

was  appointed.     This  committee  advised  "  keeping 

before  the   Brotherhood,  for  a  year,  the  need   of 

tracts  rewritten  from  the  following  viewpoints : 

Absence  of  the  polemical  spirit. 

An  exhaustive  study  of  the  scriptural  teaching  on  the 
subject. 
A  systematic  history  of  the  church  on  the  subject. 
Objections. 
Practical  and  spiritual  values  of  the  doctrine. 

A  year  later  the  special  committee  reported,  "  No 
progress."  Another  call  for  "new  tracts  on  evan- 
gelistic as  well  as  spiritual  lines  "  was  made.  An  in- 
different report  was  made  the  following  year,  and 
there  has  not  been  any  aggressive  move  in  the  tract 
work  since.  The  approved  tracts  are  sent  out  as 
calls  are  made.  One  needs  but  be  familiar  with 
churches  over  the  Brotherhood  to  know  in  how 
many  places  tracts  ordered  lie  in  disuse  under  the 
"minister's  table." 

For  members  on  Tract  Examining  Committee  and 
term  of  service  see  Appendix  C. 

For  a  list  of  Tracts  and  Pamphlets  in  use  in  1913, 
see  Appendix ,  D, 

174 


One  Organization 

To  Colonize  Scandinavians  in  America 

One  of  the  most  perplexing  problems  that  con- 
fronted the  General  Mission  Board,  through  all  the 
years,  was  the  loss  of  members   in 

_    .^      .  Denmark  and  Sweden  through  emi- 

Enugration  a  •  rr-,        r 

gration    to   America.     The    laws    of 

both  countries  required  all  young  men  reaching 
their  majority  to  learn  the  art  of  war.  The  anti-war 
principles  of  the  church,  heartily  endorsed  by  the 
young  brethren  in  these  countries,  placed  them  in 
such  a  difficulty  that  the  easiest  way  out  was  to 
come  to  America,-^the  land  free  from  such  require- 
ment. As  a  consequence,  many  of  the  young  sis- 
ters, seeking  companionship  of  those  of  like  pre- 
cious faith,  and  also  to  better  themselves  in  other 
ways,  also  came;  so  that,  while  the  number  of  bap- 
tisms should  and  would  indicate  a  large  church  in 
Denmark  and  Sweden,  the  membership  was  small 
instead. 

When    these    Scandinavian    members    came    to 

America, — instead  of  falling  in  with  the  members 

of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  with 

o  oniz    10  whom   they   could   not   speak, — they 

Approved  ,  ^        '  ■' 

went  to  the  people  of  their  own  na- 
tionality and  were,  in  many  instances,  lost  to  the 
church.  After  considerable  study  on  this  question, 
the  Board  asked  Annual  Meeting  of  1894  to  consider 
the  following  plan,  to  try  to  save  to  the  church  the 
members  who  migrated  from  Europe  to  America : 

Decided  to  recommend  to  Standing  Committee  the  plan 
of  colonization  of  Scandinavians  in  America  and  have  a 
committee  of  three  appointed  to  carry  it  out. 

175 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

1.  That  the  Committee  does  favor  a  colony  of  Scandi- 
navian members  in  America. 

2.  That  before  being  organized  they  sustain  the  same 
relation  to  the  congregation  in  which  they  are  located 
as    other    members. 

3.  That  the  colony,  w^hen  organized  into  a  congrega- 
tion, hold  the  same  relation  to  adjoining  congregations, 
to  the  District  in  which  they  are,  and  to  the  Annual  Meet- 
ing, as  other  congregations  hold. 

4.  That  we  recommend  all  Scandinavian  members,  emi- 
grating to  America,  to   locate  in  such  colony. 

5.  That  if  needed  we  will  give,  through  District  Mis- 
sion Board,  a  reasonable  amount  for  the  support  of  a 
minister  among  them. 

"The  plan  and  project  proposed  was  approved" 
and  the  Board  authorized  to  carry  it  out  according 
to  their  best  judgment  ("  Annual  Meeting  Minutes," 
pages  607  and  608). 

Through  correspondence,  D.  L.  Miller,  C.  Hope, 

S.  W.  Hoover  and  another  brother  were  appointed 

to  visit    localities    along    the    Great 

Problem  Not  Northern  Railroad  in  North  Dakota. 
Solved 

Nearly  a  week  was  spent  on  the  trip, 

and  a  report  was  made  to  the  meeting  of  the  Board 
in  September,  1894.  The  question  was  not  settled 
and  another  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  pros- 
pective locations  in  the  vicinity  of  Norfolk,  Virginia. 
But  the  more  the  Board  comprehended  what  they 
were  undertaking,  the  less  did  it  think  that  colo- 
nization would  solve  the  problem  and  finally,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1895,  the  plan  of  colonization  was  deferred 
indefinitely. 

In  recent  years  a  few  young  brethren  in  Sweden 

176 


One  Organization 

have  had  the  Christian  fortitude  to  endure  confine- 
ment   in    prison    for    Christ's    sake. 

T,  .  This  has  had  a  good  effect.    Still  the 

Prison  .         .  .  ° 

situation  remains  a  perplexing  one. 

Assistance  in  Building  Meetinghouses 

From  the  beginning  assistance  in  building  meet- 
inghouses, while  not  taking  much  of 

Meetinghouses   ^^'^  ^°^^^'^  ^^"^^'  ^^^  ^"  important 
part  of  their  work. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  on  May  24,  1894,  the 
following  rules  were  adopted  regulating  the  secur- 
ing of  help  to  build  meetinghouses  in  congregations 
needing  the  assistance: 

1.  Every  congregation  should  endeavor,  by  effort 
within  itself,  or  by  calling  upon  the  District  Mis- 
sion Board,  to  build  its  house  of  worship ;  and  when 
aid  is  needed,  the  smallest  sum  that  will  meet  the 
case  should  be  asked  for. 

2.  In  making  application  the  following  particu- 
lars should  be  included : 

(a)  The  number  of  members  and  the  average  at- 
tendance at  public  worship. 

(b)  Other  denominations  and  the  size  of  their 
congregations,  in  the  immediate  neighborhood. 

(c)  The  nature  of  the  business  in  the  community, 
the  character  and  condition  of  the  people,  and 
whether  the  population  is  increasing,  stationary  or 
decreasing. 

(d)  The  proposed  size  and  cost  of  the  house. 

(e)  The  amount  raised  by  the  congregation. 

(f)  In  case  of  donation,  a  statement  that  the  con- 

177 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

gregation  agrees  to  contribute,  at  least  once  each 
year,  to  the  General  Mission  Fund  as  the  Lord  has 
prospered  him. 

3.  All  petitions  for  help,  either  by  donation  or 
loan,  coming  from  an  organized  church  must  be  en- 
dorsed by  the  District  Mission  Board  before  it  will 
be  entertained  by  the  Board. 

In  1903  the  above  plan  was  so  modified  that  no 
longer  donations  would  be  given  to  churches,  but 

loans  can  be  made,  without  interest. 
Loans  Only  on         ,  ,  ,  i   •     4.  n 

_.       _.  and  payable  on  easy  annual  mstall- 

Easy  Terms  ^    -^     ,  -^    ,  ,        .        .      , 

ments,  and  a  perpetual  loanmg  fund 

for  building  meetinghouses  was  established.  Since 
1885  a  large  number  of  congregations  have  been  as- 
sisted to  build  their  places  of  worship.  The  com- 
plete list  to  date  is  found  in  Appendix  E. 

In  1894  the  city  mission  work  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, came  under  the  supervision  of  the  General 
Mission  Board,  and  a  brief  account  is  here  given, 
until  it  was  again  returned  to  its  State  District- 

The  Chicago  Mission 

January  31,  1885,  J.  G.  Royer  and  D.  L.  Miller, 
then  a  lay-member  and  editor  of  the  Gospel  Mes- 
senger, held  the  first  meeting  of  the 
The  Beginning  Church  of  the  Brethren  at  3500  State 
Street,  in  Chicago.  Including  the 
minister,  there  were  twelve  persons  in  attendance. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  ascertained  that  fourteen 
members  were  living  within  the  city  limits,  though 
scattered  over  a  large  territory.  In  order  to  accom- 
modate as  many  of  them  as  possible  with  meetings, 

178 


One  Organization 

it  was  decided  to  hold  the  forenoon  meetings  at  3500 

State  Street  and  the  evening  meetings  at  900  West 

Madison  Street, — the  former  on  the  South  Side  and 

the  latter  on  the  West  Side  of  Chicago. 

Within  a  year  after  this  beginning,  a  dark  cloud, 

through  "  false  brethren,"  fell  upon  the  scattered 

flock  and  almost  brought  it  to  nought. 
Dark  Clouds       td,  r  ,.  u  j 

R  •  ht  D  Jrlaces    of    meetmg    were    changed, 

bright  days  followed  in  time ;  then 
further  reverses  until  the  meetings  were  held  in  a 
basement  on  West  Lake  Street.  Thus  the  cause 
struggled  feebly  onward  until  it  was  decided  to  bury 
all  the  troubles  and  differences  of  the  past  by  hold- 
ing a  love  feast  on  August  19,  1888,  at  the  mission 
room  on  East  Adams  Street.  Nine  brethren  and  five 
sisters  sat  down  at  the  Lord's  table, — the  first  love 
feast  held  by  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Chicago. 
The  time  had  come  for  an  organization,  it  was 
thought,  and  so,  on  March  23,  1889,  D.  E.  Price, 
Daniel  Dierdorff  and  J.  G.  Royer  met 
Organization  with  the  members  at  Oakley  Av- 
enue and  Jackson  Boulevard  and  or- 
ganized the  First  Brethren  Church  in  Chicago. 
Twenty-two  letters  were  read  and  these  persons  be- 
came charter  members  of  the  organization.  W.  R. 
Miller  and  Nathan  Spare  were  elected  to  the  dea- 
con's office  and  J.  G.  Royer  was  chosen  bishop  of 
the  congregation.  Brother  Royer  continued  having 
the  oversight  of  the  congregation  till  1895.  On 
June  22,  1889,  W.  R.  Miller  was  called  to  the  min- 
istry. 

The  mission  progressed  slowly;  all  the  workers 

179 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

within  reach  helped  according  to  their  abihty;  about 

this  time  Northern  District  of  lUinois 
g^^*j^''°P^'"*y    bought  the  Hastings   Street  church 

property  for  $2,500,  thus  giving  a 
permanent  home  for  the  believers.  Alice  J.  Boone 
took  a  deep  interest  among  the  children  and  was  ac- 
complishing good  results.  In  May,  1893,  she  came 
before  the  General  Mission  Board  and  told  of  the 
needs  of  mission  work  in  the  city.  But  it  was  the 
mind  of  the  Board  that,  since  Chicago  was  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  an  organized  District,  all  it  could 
do,  at  the  time,  was  to  express  sympathy  for  her  in 
her  work,  and  ask  "  God  to  sustain  her  and  make  her 
work  a  success"  (Board's  Minutes,  1893,  p.  132). 
A  year  later,  "  at  the  request  of  the  Mission  Board 
of  Northern   Illinois,"   it   was  decided   "  to  accept 

Chicago  as  a  charge  of  this  Commit- 
Under  the  ^^^  assured  W.  R.  Miller,  the  ap- 
General  Board         .  . 

pointed  missionary  of  Chicago,  that 

this  Committee  will  support  him  until  the  next 
meeting."  Thus  the  Chicago  mission  came  under 
the  supervision  of  the  General  Mission  Board.  Alice 
J.  Boone,  whose  work  for  a  number  of  years  had 
been  effectual,  was  continued  in  charge  of  the  Chil- 
dren's Mission. 

The  following  September  the  Board  planned   a 
vigorous  campaign.     It  appointed  J.   G.   Royer  and 

D.  L.  Miller  to  represent  it,  and  asked 
Vigorous  |.j^g    Chicago    church    to    appoint    a 

third,  and  these  three  should  be  a 
"  committee  to  take  charge  of  the  Chicago  Chil- 
dren's Mission."    Alice  J.  Boone  and  Lizzie  Howe 

180 


One  Organization 

were  appointed  "  to  look  after  the  interests  of  the 
special  mission  in  Chicago  "  and  "  money  donated 
to  the  Chicago  Children's  Mission  was  to  be  sent 
direct  to  the  treasurer  appointed  in  Chicago,  and  to 
be  used  exclusively  there."  During  the  ensuing 
year  a  series  of  meetings  was  held  and  seven  con- 
fessed Christ.  The  outlook  was  promising  and  the 
need  of  a  better  church  home  seemed  imperative. 
On  June  6,  1895,  Sisters  Boone  and  Howe,  and  Bro- 
ther W.  R.  Miller  came  before  the  General  Mission 
Board  at  its  meeting  held  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  and 
the  conclusion  reached  at  this  Conference  was  that 
the  three  members  from  Chicago  were  "  authorized 
to  raise  by  subscription  $10,000  to  build  a  new  meet- 
inghouse in  Chicago,  in  which  there  will  be  rooms 
for  a  dispensary,  mission,  school-rooms,  etc."  Sis- 
ter Howe  was  made  treasurer  of  the  Children's  Mis- 
sion and  summer  vacations  were  arranged  for. 

In  May,  1896,  Sister  Boone  withdrew  from  the 
mission.    Elizabeth  Howe  was  placed  in  charge,  and 

Susie  Forney  appointed  her  assistant. 
Some  Changes  The  membership  was  increasing  and 

the  work  growing.  In  order  to  di- 
rect the  work  more  readily,  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee of  the  General  Mission  Board, — a  sub-committee 
then  in  existence, — was  given  supervision  of  the 
Children's  Mission.  Additional  workers  were 
added. 

In  the  meantime  a  dispensary,  opened  in  a  small 
way  at  first,  had  rapidly  grown  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Dr.  G.  H.  Van  Dyke,  who  had  located  in 
Chicago  on  July   1,   1897.     Through  patient  labors 

181 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

the  months  passed  into  years  until,  in  1899,  Sister 
Howe,  feeling  she  would  like  more  preparation  in 

Bible  School,  asked  to  be  relieved  of 
Dispensary  j^^  position.     Susie  Forney  succeeded 

her. 

The  need  of  better  facilities  was  very  apparent 
and  a  committee,  consisting  of  D.  L.  Miller,  S.  F. 
Sanger  and  W.  R.  Miller,  was  appointed  to  provide, 

either  by  purchase  or  erection,  such 
Anot  er  top-  pj^pej-^y  ^^d  accommodations  as  they 
erty  Bought         ,         ,       ,      ,      /tvt-      .  <■    -r,       j 

thought    best    (Mmutes    of    Board, 

page  230,  1900).  The  Committee  purchased  the 
dwelling-house  next  to  the  church  for  $3,000  and 
ordered  $600  worth  of  improvements  to  be  made. 
In  this  was  placed  the  dispensary  at  the  front,  Dr. 
Van  Dyke  in  charge.  His  family  lived  up  stairs, 
while  several  rooms  were  for  other  use.  W.  R.  Mil- 
ler's report  of  conditions  in  Chicago,  at  this  time, 
was  encouraging.  Dr.  Van  Dyke,  a  hard  worker 
before,  put  still  greater  enthusiasm  in  his  work. 

In  1901  the  churchhouse  at  183  Hastings  Street 
was  remodeled  and  improved,  to  meet  the  needs  of 
a     rapidly-growing     Sunday-school, 
Growth  now  averaging  129,  and  a  church  at- 

tendance of  46.  The  dispensary,  that 
year,  issued  3,418  different  prescriptions,  and  Dr. 
Van  Dyke's  work,  in  connection  with  the  church, 
was  helpful.  The  next  year,  through  the  agitation 
of  Ralph  W.  Miller,  a  Brethren's  Young  People's 
Union  was  organized,  similar,  in  purport,  to  the  aim 
of  the  Christian  Workers'  organization  authorized 
by  Annual  Meeting  in  1903.     The  Sunday-school 

182 


One  Organization 

at  Hastings  Street,  in  comparison  with  other 
schools  in  the  Brotherhood,  stood  "  fifteenth  in  en- 
rollment, fifth  in  total  collection,  third  in  mission 
money,  and,  in  the  District  of  Northern  Illinois, 
second  in  enrollment,  third  in  gross  receipts,  and 
fourth  in  missionary  money." 

Prompted  by  his  great  love  for  boys  and  girls  in 
Chicago,  Millard  R.  Alyers,  through  patient  agita- 
tion     and      persistent      solicitation 
Extension  ^i      o       j  1111  r 

Sunday-school  ^"^°"&  ^"^  Sunday-school  scholars  of 
the  Brotherhood,  with  the  assistance 
of  consecrated  workers  in  Chicago,  was  permitted 
to  see  opened,  on  May  10,  1903,  the  first  Exten- 
sion Sunday-school.  At  first  it  began  in  Fraternity 
Hall,  225  East  Sixty-fourth  Street,  but  later  was 
moved  to  259^  East  Sixty-fourth  Street.  It  was 
organized  with  H.  P.  Albaugh  as  superintendent, 
and  there  were  eight  scholars  from  the  community 
to  form  the  nucleus  of  the  Extension  movement. 
But  the  school  grew  under  the  efficient  efforts  of 
Ella  Miller,  of  Nappanee,  Indiana,  and  M.  W.  Em- 
mert,  of  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  the  latter  in  attend- 
ance at  the  University  of  Chicago  at  the  time,  so 
that,  in  less  than  a  year,  the  enrollment  was  75  and 
the  average  attendance  40.  Industrial  work  was  a 
feature  of  the  mission  school,  and  very  helpful. 
This  is  the  beginning  of  a  movement  in  behalf  of 
the  children  of  Chicago  that  is  still  doing  good 
work.  Though  under  the  direction  of  the  Chicago 
church,  the  General  Mission  Board  has  been  extend- 
ing the  privilege  of  soliciting  the  Sunday-schools 
of  the  Brotherhood  for  financial  help. 

183 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

In  glancing  over  this  part  of  the  life  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in  Chicago,  one  should  not  overlook 
,  the  short  periods  of  service,  about  a 

Workers  ^^^^  each,  rendered  by  several  who 

Labored  Here  afterwards  entered  foreign  lands. 
Bertha  Ryan  Shirk  was  first;  then 
Mary  N.  Quinter,  and  later  Gertrude  Rowland  E'm- 
mert.  These  are  held  in  precious  memory  by  those 
in  Chicago  who  came  under  their  influence  while 
there.  To  this  should  be  added  a  fourth,  Cora 
Cripe  Brubaker.  Her  period  of  service  extends  from 
December  20,  1895,  to  July  26,  1905.  During  that 
time  she  labored  as  assistant  a  little  over  five  years, 
and  from  October  1,  1901,  to  the  end  of  her  service, 
in  charge  of  the  work. 

On  May  30,  1904,  the  General  Mission  Board  of- 
fered to  turn  the  whole  Chicago  mission  interests, 
including  dispensary,  property  and 
A  Transfer  all,  to  the  Chicago  church  in  consid- 
eration of  the  payment  of  $3,722.36 
endowment  which  the  Board  had  invested  in  the 
property.  The  proposition  was  accepted  and  soon 
after  this  date  the  Chicago  church  returned  to  the 
direct  supervision  of  the  District,  the  same  as  any 
other  congregation,  and  its  further  interesting  his- 
tory belongs  to  the  history  of  missionary  endeavor 
by  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois. 

Chicago,  like  all  cities,  is  a  field  In  which  there 
is  much  need  of  work.  None  know  it  so  well  as 
those  who  have  lived  there.  Perhaps  none  have 
labored  harder,  and  made  more  sacrifices  for  the 
cause  than  the  members  of  metropolitan  churches,  and 

184 


One  Organization 

as  long  as  the  Extension  movement  makes  appeals 
to  the  Sunday-schools  of  the  Brotherhood  for  help 

and  it  is  sent,  so  long  will  this  church, 
Fraying  tor         struggling  against  the  combined  foes 

of  righteousness,  have  the  prayers  of 
the  Brotherhood. 

About     1894     one,     E.     Bombay     Edwards,     ap- 
peared in  the  missionary  activities  of  the  church 

on  the  home  base.  He  had  been  a 
one  rom  ^  missionary  in  India  for  a  number  of 
India  Helping  ;;  ^u      u       ^    tj 

years,  under  another  board,  lie  came 

to  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  order  to  follow  the 
Lord  more  fully,  and,  after  uniting,  he  wrote  sev- 
eral good  tracts,  one,  in  particular,  "  Triune  Argu- 
ment for  Trine  Immersion."  Knowing  India  as  he 
did,  he  traveled  somewhat  in  company  with  Brother 
Stover,  to  develop  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  pro- 
posed new  mission.  Thus  he  labored  among  the 
churches  for  more  than  a  year.  Finally,  in  1895, 
the  General  Mission  Board  ordered  the  following 
to  be  published  in  the  Gospel  Messenger,  "Because 
of  wrong  impressions,  the  Brotherhood  is  informed 
that  E.  Bombay  Edwards  was  not  authorized  by 
the  General  Mission  Board  to  lecture  in  behalf  of 
the  India  Mission."  Soon  after  this  he  disappeared 
from  the  associations  of  the  membership. 

In  1894,  at  the  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania,  Con- 
ference, W.  B.  Stover  and  his  wife,  Mary,  and  Bertha 
Ryan,     were     approved     as     mission- 

.,        ,  aries    to    India,    while  D.    L.    Miller 

Abroad  . 

and  his  wife  were  endorsed,  by  unani- 
mous consent,  to  visit  the  churches  in  Denmark  and 
Sweden. 

185 


■    Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

In  1894  the  General  Mission  Board  decided  to  be- 
gin the  erection  of  a  meetinghouse  in  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia,  and  the  account  of  that  mission 
properly  falls  in  place  here. 

Washington,  D.  C,  Mission 

The  early  history  of  each  city  mission  has  much 

that  will  always  be  unwritten  on  earth.     Members 

„.    .         locate  in  the  city,  appeal  to  some  of 
How   Missions    ,,     •     r  •    •  ^         r 

g     .jj  their  former  ministers  for  preaching, 

and  the  preacher  with  a  missionary 
heart  visits  them,  perhaps  holds  meetings  in  a  pri- 
vate home  or  a  rented  hall.  Hearts  are  warmed  and 
stirred,  and  a  mission  is  begun.  It  began  without 
the  direction  of  any  organization  except  the  Great 
Organizer,  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  mission  grew, 
perhaps  very  slowly  at  first,  until  it  was  needful 
that  some  one  supervise  and  help  it,  and  then  it  came 
under  the  care  of  some  organization. 

Not  unlike  the  foregoing  did  the  work  in  Wash- 
ington begin.     S.  H.  Myers,  of  Timberville,  Vir- 
ginia,  whose   heart   always    reached 

Disappoin  -         beyond   ordinary  metes  and  bounds 
ment  .  ,.     .     -^  „ 

m  evangelistic  efltort,  took  an  inter- 
est in  the  Washington,  D.  C.,  work.  What  pre- 
ceded the  Board's  action,  in  January,  1893,  was  not 
committed  to  record,  but  the  decision  at  this  time 
reflects  disappointment,  as  well  as  a  determination 
to  withdraw  from  the  city.   This  is  the  significant 

186 


One  Organization 

record:  "That  since  the  number  of  members  in 
the  Washington  City  mission  is  not  what  was  ex- 
pected, the  expense  much  higher  than  was  antici- 
pated, and  the  location  of  the  missionary  was  done 
without  the  confirmation  of  the  Board,  we  discon- 
tinue the  work  for  the  present,  and,  in  addition  to 
the  monthly  allowance,  pay  Brother  Lyon's  moving 
expenses  to  his  former  residence."  It  was  stated 
in  a  notice,  appearing  soon  after  in  the  Gospel  Messen- 
ger, "In  closing  this  work,  the  Board  does  not  wish 
to  reflect  on  any  person  connected  with  the  mis- 
sion. 

The  action,  however,  seems  not  to  have  done  jus- 
tice to  Wm.  Lyon,  the  missionary  who  had  located 
there  with  the  understanding  that  he 
Reconsidera-  ^^^^^  ^^  supported  one  year.   (This 

agreement,  apparently,  had  been  en- 
tered into  on  the  part  of  the  Board  by  S.  H.  Myers 
and  had  not  been  reported.)  Some  eight  bishops 
from  Maryland  and  Virginia  came  before  the  Board 
and,  after  prayerful  reconsideration,  it  was  decided 
to  carry  out  the  year's  contract.  Eastern  Maryland 
was  asked  "to  take  charge  of  the  mission."  This 
reconsideration  was  a  good  one,  for  at  the  end  of 
the  year  the  General  Mission  Board  decided  to  con- 
tinue the  mission  under  the  care  of  Wm.  Lyon.  At 
the  end  of  the  fiscal  year,  March  31,  1894,  the  Board 
reported  to  Conference  that  for  ten  months'  service 
Brother  Lyon  had  been  rewarded  with  four  bap- 
tisms, that  an  average  attendance  of  twenty-seven 
had  worshiped  in  the  mission,  and  that  there  were 
twenty-four  members  in  the  city. 

187 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

At  the  April,  1894,  meeting  the  Board  "decided  to 
appropriate  $500  towards  building  a  meetinghouse 
there,  provided  sufficient  funds  could 
Providing  a  ^^  ^^-^^^  ^^  complete  it."  For  this 
Meeting- 
house  purpose  a  call  w^as  made  through  the 

Gospel  Messenger.  Wm.  Lyon  also 
made  a  proposition,  w^hich  was  accepted  by  the 
Board,  It  is  as  follows :  '"'I  am  willing  to  work  in  the 
capacity  of  a  colporter  and  give  one-half  the  profits 
accruing  therefrom  to  the  support  of  the  mission, 
provided  that  the  Board  agree  still  to  pay  the  actual 
expenses  of  the  mission,  as  heretofore,  after  deduct- 
ing one-half  the  profits  as  named  above,  also  con- 
tributions, etc.,  and  that  the  Board  decide  further 
to  have  me  continue  in  city  missions  as  long  as  I 
render  satisfaction."  During  the  summer  the  be- 
lievers were  organized,  twenty-six  letters  being  read, 
and  these  became  charter  members  of  the  Washington 
City  congregation. 

It  is  with  regret  that,  on  February  11,  1896,  not 
one  year  after  the  former  action  of  the  Board,  the 
record  indicates  dissatisfaction. 
Resignation  Brother  Lyon's  resignation  was  ac- 
cepted. The  Board  allowed  him 
proper  remuneration  to  return  from  the  field  to  his 
home,  and  expressed  its  "appreciation  for  the  spirit 
manifested  in  his  letter  of  resignation." 

In  May,  1896,  Albert  HolUnger  and  family  lo- 
cated in  Washington  and  he  became  the  missionary. 
In    September    following.    Sister   Westergreen,   then 
Carrie  Anderson,  was  appointed  Tract  worker  and 
assistant,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  go  to 

188 


One  Organization 

Washington,  to  see  what  could  be  done  towards  pur- 
chasing  a  site    for   a  meetinghouse.      In    February, 

1897,  this  special  committee  reported 
Lot   Purchased  that  a  lot   on   the  corner   of   Fourth 

and  North  Carolina  Avenue,  S.  E., 
costing  $6,000,  had  been  secured.  It  was  decided  to 
raise  by  donations  $5,000  towards  putting  up  a 
meetinghouse  and  parsonage.  At  the  time  of  this 
decision,  the  lot  purchased  lacked  about  a  thousand 
dollars  of  being  paid  for.  But  the  Board  had  confi- 
dence in  the  Brotherhood's  support  and  went  ahead. 
That  confidence  was  not  misplaced. 

At  the   same   meeting  "  Albert  Hollinger,  with 
such  assistance  as  the  congregation  at  Washington 

selected,"     was     made     the    building 

ui    ing  committee    and    plans    for    the    pro- 

Committee  ^  A       ^u 

posed    house   were    approved.      i  he 

building  committee  consisted  of  Albert  Hollinger,  A. 
B.  Barnhart,  S.  F.  Sanger  and  M.  C.  Flohr.  An  active 
campaign  of  soliciting  began  at  once,  Brother  Hollin- 
ger working  in  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, while  the  other  territory  was  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Mission  Rooms.  Taken  from  the  An- 
nual Report,  in  totals,  this  is  how  the  money  was 
raised : 

Donations  for  year  ending  March,  1896,   $1,697.77 

Donations  for  year  ending  March,  1897,   3,114.73 

Donations  for  year  ending  March,  1898,   1,826.11 

$6,638.61 
189 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Lot  purchased,   $6,000.00 

Deed   and   expenses   therewith,    77.64 

Taxes,    39.14 

Solicitor's  expenses,   55.16 

Total  expense,   $6,171.94 

Balance  on  hand  towards  house, $   466.67 

Donations  for  year  ending  March,  1899,  3,642.26 

Donations  for  year  ending  March,  1900,  4,166.39 

Returned  from  Washington,  168.86 


$8,444.18 

Building $6,147.70 

Labor,    3,277.92 

Taxes,    208.32 

Expense  of  solicitors,  86.45 

Committee's  expenses 219.11     $9,939.50 

Indebtedness, $1,495.32 

In  about  two  years  the  indebtedness  was  cancelled. 

In  May,  1898,  "51  feet  off  the  North  Carolina  Ave- 
nue front  was  ordered  sold  for  $1,400,"  and  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  edifice  was  ordered  to  begin  at 
once. 

In  the  1899  report  of  the  General  Mission  Board 
appears  this  statement :  "  Special  mention  is  due 
In  Care  of  the  Mission  Board  of  Eastern  Mary- 
Eastern  Mary-  land,  now  caring  for  the  Washing- 
land  ton,  D.  C.  Mission.  Under  their  gen- 
eral supervision  and  the  earnest  efforts  of  those  at 
Washington,  the  work  is  progressing," 

The  General  Mission  Board  continued  a  financial 
help  to  the  mission,  however.     In  the  erection  of 

190 


One  Organization 

the  church  edifice,  it  was  contemplated  that  at  some 
time  a  parsonage  would  be  added.    In   May,   1902, 
this   much   needed    improvement   was 
arsonage  ordered,  not  to  cost  over  $3,000,  and 

to  be  constructed  under  the  super- 
vision of  A.  B.  Barnhart,  of  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land. He  succeeded  well,  for  a  suitable  building 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  a  little  less  than  $2,500.  The 
congregation  grew  strong  enough,  numerically,  to 
help  bear  the  burden  of  the  property  in  taxes  and 
repairs,  and  finally  assumed  the  obligation  of  $3,250 
in  endowment,  which  the  Board  had  invested  in  en- 
dowment, and  is  paying  that  ofT. 

No  congregation  in  the  Brotherhood  has  a  more 
important  place  to  witness  for  Christ  than  the  mem- 
bers in  the  capital  of  our  land.    The 
Place  membership  are  earnest,  faithful  and 

true,  and  the  Brotherhood  rejoices 
in  their  comfortable  place  of  worship  and  loyalty 
to  Christ. 

Gish  Testament  Fund 

No  one  felt  more  keenly  the  need  of  Bible  dis- 
tribution in  out-of-the-way  places  than  did  James 
R.  Gish,  whose  later  years  were  spent 
A  Great  Need  in  evangelistic  work  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  Brotherhood,  especially 
in  Missouri  and  Arkansas.  He  wanted  evangelists 
to  locate  and  build  up  the  cause  where  the  language 
was  known,  and  offered  $25  cash  for  every  one 
whom  the  General  Mission  Board  would  locate  in 
that   territory.      In   addition   he   presented   to   the 

191 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Board,  at  its  meeting  of  April,  1894,  the  plan  where- 
by Bibles  could  be  circulated  at  cost.  He  gave  $100 
to  buy  cheap  Bibles,  and  asked  the  Board  to  resell 
them  at  just  what  they  cost;  reinvest  the  money 

and  thus  perpetuate  the  fund.  Later 
Unique   Book     he  gave  the  Board  $1,000  in  cash  to 

publish  what  became  generally 
known  as  the  Gish  Testament,  a  unique  and  useful 
book  used  by  many  ministers  and  others.  The  fund 
is  largely  intact,  and  the  Testament  has  run  through 
many  editions.  Special  editions  have  been  made  for 
other  denominations  and  associations. 

It  was  recorded  in  sadness,  in  the  early  part  of 
1895,  that  S.  W.  Hoover,  a  member  of  the  General 

Mission  Board,  suddenly  died.     He 

'      ■        ,"        had  been  in  usual  health,  very  active 
ver  s  Death         .  . 

m  the  Board  meeting  held  at  Bridge- 
water,  Virginia,  in  February,  and  was  called  home 
before  the  Board  met  again.  In  the  May  meeting 
suitable  resolutions  were  passed.  He  was  the  only 
one  who  died  while  in  the  service  of  the  Brother- 
hood as  a  member  of  the  General  Mission  Board. 
Isaac  Frantz  was  chosen  tO'  complete  his  term. 

The  problem  of  missions  was  not  all  on  the  for- 
eign field.    Members  on  the  home  base  were  moving 

„.  ,,.  .  into  the  cities,  where  there  were  no 
City  Mission  ^.  .     .       -r,     .,  a 

p,  congregations    of    the    Brethren.     A 

mission  was  established ;  the  minis- 
ter was  not  able  to  support  himself  as  had  been  the 
rule  in  the  rural  districts.  In  1894  a  query,  asking 
for  a  plan  for  city  missions,  was  referred  to  the  Gen- 
eral Mission  Board  to  answer,  and  in  1895  the  fol- 
lowing was  oflfered  and  adopted : 

192 


One  Organization 

1.  City  missions  should  be  placed  in  charge  of  exemplary 
ministers,  who  are  able  and  willing  to  teach  and  maintain 
the  doctrines  and  practices  of  the  church. 

2.  They  must  be  men  who  understand  the  character  and 
wants  of  city  missions,  and  can  adapt  themselves  to  that 
class  of  work. 

3.  In  order  that  they  may  give  the  work  their  entire 
time  and  attention,  it  is  necessary  that  they  receive  a  rea- 
sonable support. 

4.  State  Mission  Boards  are  hereby  authorized  and  urged 
to  establish  missions  in  cities  where  there  are  favorable 
openings,  and  sustain  them  in  accordance  with  the  above 
provisions. 

5.  State  Boards  that  can  not  raise,  or  devise  ways  for 
raising,  what  is  needed  to  maintain  such  missions,  may 
apply  to  the  General  Mission  Board  for  assistance. 

6.  City  missions,  thus  established  and  maintained,  must 
sustain  the  same  relation  to  the  respective  Districts  as 
other  congregations,  and  should  be  urged  to  become  self- 
supporting  as  soon  as  practicable. 

Asia  Minor  Mission 

The  earliest  recorded  interest  by  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  in  a  mission  in  Asia  Minor  is  the  fol- 
lowing decision,  made  by  the  General 
Earliest  Record  Mission  Board  at  its  meeting  on  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1895,  "  The  Board  decided  to 
send  a  missionary  to  Asia  Minor  as  soon  as  a  suit- 
able one  can  be  found  and  funds  raised  to  support 
the  work."  In  December  previous  to  this  meeting, 
G.  J.  Fercken  and  family  had  arrived  in  Mt.  Morris, 
Ilhnois,  and  had  been  received  into  fellowship  with 
the  Brethren  by  baptism.  Brother  Fercken  was  liv- 
ing in  Mt.  Morris,  spending  much  time  in  the  Mis- 
sion Rooms,  partly  in  clerical  work,  partly  in  read- 
ing. 

193 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Several  years  before  D.  L.  Miller  had  toured 
Asia    Minor,    and    in    1894    published     his    "Seven 

Churches  of  Asia."  This  laid  a  splen- 
The  . 

„     .     .  did  foundation  for  missionary  inter- 

Beginmng  ^        a  .u     -a         t  •  •     • 

est,  and  the  idea  of  opening  a  mission 

in  Asia  Minor  at  this  time  grew  rapidly  in  favor. 
Brother  Fercken  appeared  to  be  the  logical  one  to 
send.  At  the  Conference  of  1895  G.  J.  Fercken  was 
approved  and  he  at  once  planned  to  sail  for  Smyr- 
na, Asia  Minor.  That  same  fall  D.  L.  Miller  and 
wife  started  on  their  world  tour,  visited  Smyrna 
and  made  their  report.  In  the  meantime  the  Secre- 
tary used  his  best  judgment  in  directing  the  opening 
of  the  mission.  Brother  Fercken  was  a  frequent 
writer  for  the  Gospel  Messenger,  sometimes  dis- 
cussing general  questions  of  religion  in  Europe,  at 
other  times  relating  touching  incidents  of  the  mis- 
sion. In  February,  1896,  the  Secretary  reported 
progress,  and  he  was  instructed  to  secure  an  item- 
ized statement  of  expenditures  up  to  this  time. 
Concerning  the  opening  of  this  mission  an  extract 
from  the  Board's  Annual  Report  to  the  Conference 
of  1896  will  be  of  interest: 

One  year  ago.  it  was  decided  to  open  a  mission  at 
Smyrna,  Asia  Minor.  G.  J.  Fercken  and  wife,  the  mis- 
sionaries appointed,  reached  their  field  of  labor  July  13, 
1895.  In  September  D.  L.  Miller  and  wife,  H.  B.  Brum- 
baugh, T.  T.  Myers,  and  W.  L.  Bingaman,  visited  the  mis- 
sion, and  on  September  29  the  first  love  feast  was  held. 
Seven  persons  sat  around  the  table  of  the  Lord,  and  sev- 
eral Greeks  were  present  at  the  services.  Previous  to 
the  feast,  G.  J.  Fercken  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric, 
D.  L.  Miller  and  H.  B.  Brumbaugh  laying  on  hands.  The 
first  baptism  was  administered  October  17,  1895,  and  on 

194 


One  Organization 

April  15,  1896,  there  had  been  nine  received  into  the 
church, — five  from  the  Greek,  three  from  the  Armenian, 
and  one  from  the  au-Armeno-Protestant  faith.  On  Jan- 
uary 26  the  First  Church  of  the  Brethren  was  organized. 
At  this  meeting  one  deacon  was  elected  and  an  evangelist 
duly  appointed.  At  the  second  feast,  held  April  2,  eleven 
communed. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  on  May  18,  1896, 
"  Brother  Apikian  was  accepted  as  a  worker,  and 
,  two  Turkish  pounds  per  month  al- 

TT  lowed     for     his     support.       Brother 

Fercken  was  granted  permission  to 
rent  a  Brethren's  home,  the  annual  expense  of  which 
should  not  exceed  seventy-five  Turkish  pounds  per 
year  for  janitor  fees,  fuel,  light  and  rent.  That 
Brother  Fercken  be  granted  permission  to  start  an 
Orphanage,  the  number  to  be  received  to  be  regu- 
lated by  the  number  whose  support  is  pledged.  The 
basis  of  support  was  $30  per  annum.  Brother  Ferck- 
en's  support  was  made  $850  per  year,  including 
house  rent." 

The  Brotherhood   leaped   to  the  opportunity  of 

helping  to  develop  the  Orphanage.  In  the  next  year 

$3,036.99  was  donated  for  this  pur- 

ti/?i  o  J.  J  pose,  of  which  amount  $350  was  used 

Well  Supported  ^       '     .  ,     ,      ^^  ,        , 

to  furnish  the  Home  for  the  orphans, 

and  $897.25  for  the  support  of  orphans  and  their  in- 
struction. The  growth  of  the  work  pleased  the  Board 
and  a  letter  of  greeting  was  ordered  prepared  in 
its  name,  to  be  sent  to  Brother  Fercken.  In  May 
following  Brother  Yereman  appeared  in  the  history 
of  the  mission  as  a  worker  whose  support  was  made 
four  Turkish  pounds  per  month.     Brother  Fercken 

195 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

was  instructed  "  to  rent  the  Home  another  year, 
and  look  up  rights  and  title  to  property,  that  he 
may  change  location,  if  he  deems  best,  but  not  to 
increase  the  expense  over  ten  pounds  per  year." 

A  new  location  was  selected  and  occupied.    The 
activity  of  the  mission  attracted  attention, — atten- 
tion of  friends  who  rendered  more  or  less  assist- 
ance,— attention  of   others  who  grew 

Attracted  r  ,,  r  i.t-         •     • 

.^^     .  envious  of  the  success  of  the  mission, 

Attention  .       .  .     ' 

and  began  to  instigate  persecution. 
During  the  year  just  then  completed  eight  had 
been  received  into  the  church.  A  congregation 
was  organized  at  Aidin  and  a  mission  opened  in 
Philadelphia.  Sixteen  had  been  received  by  bap- 
tism during  the  year  ending  April  1,  1898. 

All  this  prosperity  hastened  a  climax  in  trouble. 

The  Annual  Report  to  Conference 
Persecution        of   1899   thus   speaks    of    what    had 

transpired: 

The  dark  cloud  of  persecution,  which  fell  upon  the  con- 
secrated and  energetic  efforts  of  G.  J.  Fercken  at  Smyrna, 
is  recorded  in  sadness.  So  bright  with  promise,  so  richly 
blessed  in  every  way,  it  is  hard  to  understand  why  the 
work  of  saving  souls  should  be  brought  so  abruptly  to  a 
close.  Brother  Fercken  sowed  the  seed  thoroughly  and 
the  gathering  called  forth  the  bitterness  of  the  enemy. 
D.  L.  Miller  writes  in  a  recent  letter  that  he  has  little 
hopes  of  reestablishing  the  Orphanage,  as  the  Sultan  has 
given  orders  to  watch  all  American  Orphanages  and  eject 
any  workers  who  seem  to  be  successful.' 

Concerning  this  situation,  the  record  of  the  Board 
on  August  8,  1898,  is  of  interest:  "To  Brother 
Fercken:  We  express  our  deep  sympathy  for  you  in 
your  recent  persecution,  for  we  do  not  entertain  a 

196 


One  Organization 

thought  of  guilt  on  your  part,  as  charged.  May  the 
Lord  help  you  to  bear  up  under  it  most  patiently, 
feeling  that  all  things  will  work  to- 
Deep  Sympathy  gether  for  good  to  them  who  trust 
in  the  Lord."  It  was  further  de- 
cided that  "because  of  the  complications  and  persecu- 
tion which  Brother  Fercken  has  met,  in  his  work 
in  the  Asia  Minor  mission,  necessitating  his  leaving 
the  field,  we  decide  that  the  Asia  Minor  mission 
be  placed  in  charge  of  D.  L.  Miller;  that  we  appro- 
priate $150  to  have  Brother  Fercken  meet  Brother 
Miller  at  Bremen,  Germany."  At  the  meeting  in 
October  the  Board  again  "extends  sympathy  and 
prayers  in  Brother  Fercken's  behalf,  in  his  present 
trouble."  After  hearing  Brother  Miller's  report 
at  the  meeting  of  January  10,  1899,  the  Board  de- 
cided, "  after  prayerful  consideration,  to  continue 
the  work  in  Smyrna,  both  mission  and  Orphanage, 
as  the  Lord  opens  the  way."  This  action,  however, 
meant  that  Brother  Fercken  was  no  longer  on  the 
field,  and  that  a  new  worker  would  have  to  be  se- 
cured. The  missionary  was  not  selected  and  at  the 
meeting  of  May  15,  1899,  Brother  Miller  was  re- 
lieved of  the  charge  of  the  mission. 

On  September  12,  1899,  Brother  Miller  made  a 
full  written  report  of  the  situation  at  Smyrna.   The 

^ Board   passed  the  following  resolu- 

FuU  Written      ^.  ^         .        ^,  ^  -n    t 

n        .  tion  concernmg  the  same:        D.  L. 

Miller  made  a  complete  report  of  the 
charges  preferred  against  G.  J.  Fercken  at  Smyrna. 
The  report,  which  reveals  a  thorough  investiga- 
tion and  impartial  presentation,  is  accepted,  and  the 

197 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Board  hereby  extends  its  hearty  thanks  for  his  inde- 
fatigable and  efficient  labors,  and  orders  the  papers 
to  be  carefully  filed.  After  hearing  the  entire 
report,  the  Board  again  declares  its  full  conviction 
of  Brother  Fercken's  innocence,  and  directs  the 
Secretary  to  inform  the  American  Missionaries  in 
Smyrna  of  this  conclusion,  and  to  send  a  copy  of 
this  minute,  with  a  letter  of  fraternal  greeting,  to 
Brother  Fercken."  It  might  be  explained  that  one 
of  the  serious  charges  against  Brother  Fercken, 
brought  by  missionaries  of  other  denominations, 
was  immorality.  In  addition  to  the  above  minute, 
the  following  appeared  in  the  Gospel  Messenger  of 
October  30,  1899: 

Having  investigated  the  charges  made  against  Brother 
Fercken,  we  most  unhesitatingly  declare  our  full  belief  in 
his  innocence.  We  express  our  esteem  for  and  our  full 
confidence  in  our  brother,  w^ho  has  been  brought  to  suffer 
so  much  for  the  cause  he  loves  and  for  which  he  made  such 
great  sacrifices.  His  success  brought  envy  and  ill  will, 
but  the  right  will  triumph  in  the  end.  Our  hope  and 
prayer  is  that  our  brother  may  be  sustained  by  the  grace 
of  God,  and  in  the  end  come  ofif  more  than  conqueror 
through  him  who  loved  us  and  died  for  us  all. 

Signed,  J.  H.  Moore, 
W.   E.   Roop, 
May  B.  Oiler, 
Lizzie  Miller, 
D.  L.  Miller. 

It  Vvas  decided  to  send  American  missionaries  to 
the  station  as  soon  as  they  could  be  secured.    At 

198 


One  Organization 

this  time  the  following  native  workers  were  receiving 

support:  Heracles,    £4  per  month;  Athanasius,    £2 

per  month ;  Chirighotis,  £  1  per  month ; 

Other  Produmos,    £2  per  month:   rent  per 

Workers  ^   c  pio  4.     ^   tdu-i 

year,  at  bmyrna,    £12;  rent  at  Phil- 
adelphia, £9  per  year. 

The  Board  sought  for  a  suitable  worker  for  this 
difficult  field,  but  found  him  not.    The  membership 

were  holding  together  as  best  they 

Without  a  1^      T^u     13     ^^  a- 

-,.    .  could,     ihe  Board  was  spendmg  no 

Missioneury  ...  ° 

funds  on  the  mission,  save  for  rents 

at  the  two  stations.  Demetrius  Chirighotis  was 
looked  upon  as  the  head  of  the  mission,  and  did  the 
correspondence  with  the  Board.  Thus  matters  pro- 
gressed until  April  29,  1902,  when  Chirighotis  was 
encouraged  to  come  to  America,  to  become  better 
acquainted  with  the  church,  and  was  allowed  $100 
towards  his  expenses.  In  a  short  time  he  landed, 
came  to  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  spent  some  time  in 
school  there  and  was  in  this  country  about  two 
years. 

In  August,  1904,  upon  Brother  Chirighotis'  return, 

the  Board  appropriated  $600  towards  a  year's  sup- 

.  port,  upon  the  understanding  that  he 

Not  Justified  ^^^^  ^°  shepherd  the  flock  for  one 
year.  Some  correspondence  dur- 
ing the  year  was  had  with  Brother  Chiri- 
ghotis, but  it  was  evident  he  was  not  entering 
into  mission  work  with  that  earnestness  that 
justified  continuing  his  support.  The  next  record- 
ed action  indicates  that  he  fell  away  from  the  ideals 
of  the  church,  for  in  1909  knowledge  came  to  the 

199 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Board  that  Chirighotis  had  put  away  his  first  wife 
and  married  another.  The  Secretary  was  then  in- 
structed "to  write  to  him  the  scriptural  teaching 
on  marriage,  and  his  violation  of  the  same,  as  under- 
stood by  the  church."  He  evidently  had  asked  for 
some  help,  for  this  was  denied  him  at  this  time. 

What  has  become  of  the  membership  of  the 
church  in  Smyrna  is  not  known.  A  few  migrated 
to  this  country  and  were  active  in  the  church  at 
Muncie,  Indiana.  As  for  the  others,  no  data  are  at 
hand. 

Many  problems  confronted  the  General  Mission 

Board  at  this  time,  four  of  which  were  taken  to 

the  Conference  of  1896  for  answer. 

eg  ec  e  j^  ^^^  decided  that  the  sadly  neglected 

Missions'  ....  JO 

mission  within  the  bounds  of  a  State 

District  is  to  be  reported  to  their  District  Meeting  and 
District  officials  are  to  "be  required  faithfully  to  dis- 
charge their  duties."  In  Asia  Minor  the  question  of 
rebaptism  was  such  an  important  one, — every  one 
being  baptized  by  trine  immersion, — that  a  com- 
mittee was  granted  to  consider  the  subject  and  re- 
port to  the  next  meeting.  Another  committee  was 
appointed  to  report  a  plan  to  provide  for  the  dis- 
abled missionary.  The  last  was  by  what  plan 
a  mission  church  should  be  located  in  its  proper 
State  District  (See  "  Minutes  of  Annual  Meeting," 
page  631). 

With  the  hope  of  changing  the  laws  of  Denmark 
and  Sweden,  so  as  to  obtain  some  leniency  to  the 
Brethren  in  those  countries,  the  General  Mission 
Board  asked  for  a  committee  of  three,  to  draft  a 

200 


One  Organization 

memorial  to  the  king  of  each  country.  The  commit- 
tee consisted  of  D.  L.  Miller,  J.  H.  Moore,  and  an- 
Memorial  to  other  brother,  who  prepared  and  sent 
Kings  the  following: 

To   His  Majesty,   King  Christian, 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Denmark: 

We,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  members  of  the  German  Baptist  Brethren 
church,  hereby  present  to  his  Majesty,  the  King  of  Den- 
mark, a  petition  in  behalf  of  the  members  of  our  faith, 
who  are  subjects  of  the  King,  and  residing  in  his  kingdom, 
in  the  hope  and  belief  that  the  King  will,  in  his  wisdom, 
modify,  in  some  degree,  the  ruling  made  in  the  case  of  our 
beloved  brethren. 

We  desire  to  present  to  the  King  the  fact  that  the  prin- 
ciples of  our  religion  forbid  our  going  to  war,  and  all  re- 
sistance by  force  to  our  enemies.  It  is  a  matter  of  con- 
science which  we  do  not  wish  to,  or  dare  to,  disregard. 

We,  therefore,  come  to  your  Majesty  in  this  manner, 
and  pray  that  the  King's  clemency  be  extended  towards 
the  members  of  our  faith,  who  are  his  subjects,  to  an  ex- 
tent that  his  Majesty  will  not  require  those  of  out  .-.brethren 
who  do  not  go  to  war,  because  of  conscientious  scruples, 
to  serve  in  prison.  It  is  not  a  lack  of  love  of  their 
motherland,  which  prevents  their  serving  the  King  in  this 
manner,  but  a  love  of  peace,  given  them  by  the  God  whom 
they  worship,  and  taught  them  from  their  childhood. 

We  pray  the  King  that  his  Majesty  will  investigate  what 
we  here  say,  and  if,  in  his  wisdom,  the  King  can  devise  a 
more  mild  manner  of  dealing  with  our  brethren,  we  will 
forever  be  grateful  to  his  majesty  therefor. 

A  similar  petitio^n  was  sent  the  King  of  Sweden. 

It  was  reported  that  in  Sweden  an  amendment  to 
the  military  law  granting  the  petition  almost  passed. 
Nothing  was  heard  from  Denmark,     Military  serv- 

201 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ice  is  still  required  of  the  Brethren,  or  else  impris- 
onment is  imposed. 

Am-ong  the  Colored  People  in  the  United  States 

The  negro  of  the  South,  naturally  religious  after 

his  manner,  has  always  appealed  to  many  of  the 

members  of  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 

--.    .  ren,  and  these  have  urged  that  mis- 

MlSSlOnS  .  ,       ,  ,  ,  rr-, 

sion  work  be  done  among  them.  The 
General  Mission  Board,  willing  to  enter  every  field 
that  the  Brotherhood  desired  to  occupy  and  was 
willing  to  support,  made  a  series  of  attempts  among 
these  people. 

In  1896  Jos.  C.  Lahman,  of  Franklin  Grove,  Il- 
linois, showed  his  interest  in  the  colored  people  in 

the   following   proposition :    "  If   the 

^  .  .  General    Mission   Board   will   under- 

Proposition  ,  .     .  ,  ,        , 

take  a  mission  to  the  colored  people 

of  the  United  States  I  will  pay  tuition,  board  and 
books,  for  one  year's  schooling,  towards  preparing 
some  colored  brother  for  the  work  of  missions." 
Brother  Lahman  was  of  the  opinion,  shared  by 
many,  too,  that  only  a  colored  missionary  could  be 
successful  among  the  colored  people  of  the  States. 
This  offer  and  other  repeated  requests  of  similar 
character  led  the  General  Mission  Board  to  appoint 
a  sub-committee,  to  draw  up  plans  for  such  a  mis- 
sion, and  report  to  the  next  meeting.  For  some 
reason  the  sub-committee  never  made  a  report,  and 
nothing  was  done  until  May  28,  1898. 

At  this  time  A.  W.  Vaniman  was  placed  in  charge 
of  a  proposed  mission  among  the  colored  people,  and 
with  two  other  brethren  to  assist  in  determining  the 

202 


One  Organization 

best  location,  he  went  to  work.  He  studied  the  con- 
ditions of  the  South  carefully.  He  and  his  wife  lo- 
cated at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  the  heart 
C^ndSs  °f  'he  "black  belt."  They  made  a 
rather  lengthy  report  to  the  General 
Mission  Board  at  its  meeting,  January,  1899,  and  the 
Board  decided  to  recall  Brother  and  Sister  Vaniman 
from  the  field,  and  refer  the  whole  question  to  the 
Standing  Committee  of  1899  for  advice.  Brother 
and  Sister  Vaniman  left  Atlanta,  Georgia,  about 
January  14,  1899,  and  if  a  report  was  made  to  the 
Standing  Committee,  no  record  seems  to  have  been 
made  of  it. 

At  the  meeting  in  May,  1900,  an  appeal  to  do 
work  among  the  colored  people  of  Fruitdale,  Ala- 
bama, was  before  the  General  Mis- 

,  sion    Board.     "  After  long  delibera- 

Appeal  .        „  .  .        , 

tions      a   committee  was   appomted 

to  discuss  the  subject  through  the  columns  of  the 

Gospel  Messenger.    Time  went  on. 

In  Indiana  a  colored  brother  contributed  liber- 
ally each  year  towards  a  mission  to  his  own  people ; 

his  daughter.  Sister  Mattie  Cunning- 
Preparation        ham,  he  sent  to  Manchester  College, 

North  Manchester,  Indiana,  and  in 
March,  1903,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  arrange 
with  her  to  enter  upon  mission  work  at  Palestine, 
Arkansas,  where  there  was  a  good  congregation  of 
white  mem'bers  and  prospects  for  opening  work 
among  the  colored  people.  There  she  would  be  un- 
der the  direction,  and  within  reach,  of  the  counsel 
of  Bishop  J.  H.  Neher,  located  at  Palestine  at  this 

203 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

time,  a  man  whose  heart  was  warm  toward  opening 
the  proposed  mission. 

The  following  September  it  was  decided  to  send 
Brother  Mays,  colored,  of  Circleville,  Ohio,  a  min- 
ister of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
A  Mission  ^j^^  Sister  Cunningham  to  Palestine. 

Soon  a  D.  C.  Clark  applied  for  mem- 
bership. He  showed  ability  in  pastoral  work;  had 
a  good  general  knowledge  of  the  Word,  and  in 
August,  1904,  it  was  decided  to  support  him,  as 
well  as  Sister  Cunningham.  Brother  Mays  remained 
only  a  short  time.  Within  the  next  couple  years  the 
work  seemed  to  grow.  By  funds  donated  espe- 
cially for  that  purpose,  a  meetinghouse  was  built. 
In  a  short  while,  however,  conditions  developed 
that  brought  Sister  Cunningham  back  home,  and 
the  mission,  through  the  death  of  Brother  Clark, 
was  closed. 

During  these  latter  days,  or  as  early  as  May  30, 
1905,  the  idea  of  an  Industrial  Mission  was  serious- 
ly   considered.      The    question    was 
Industrial  p^^^^^    j^    ^     q^    Early's    hands   to 

study,  and  raise  $15,000  to  begin  the 
project.  He  made  a  trip  to  Tuskegee  Industrial  In- 
stitute, under  the  management  of  Booker  T.  Wash- 
ington, reporting  his  findings  in  the  Missionary  Vis- 
itor in  a  series  of  well-written  and  fully-illustrated 
articles,  but  thus  far,  from  all  this  publicity,  noth- 
ing has  developed  save  that  the  General  Mission 
Board  received  $397.75,  from  an  estate  in  the  East, 
to  be  used  as  an  endowment  for  Industrial  Missions 
among  the  colored  people.     In  recent  years  there 

204 


One  Organization 

has  been  no  expressed  interest  in  missions  among 
the  colored  people. 

Mission  Work  in  Brooklyn,  New  York 

While  engaged  in  evangelistic  services  in  Malmo, 

Sweden,  in  1892,  Christian  Hope  bap- 
The  Beginning  tized  two  men,  heads  of  families.    In 

the  fall  of  the  same  year  both  emi- 
grated to  Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  for  a  time  found 
plenty  of  work.  During  the  panic  of  1893  and  '94, 
however,  want  prompted  them  to  appeal  to  the 
General  Mission  Board  for  help,  and  T.  T.  Myers, 
pastor  in  Philadelphia,  at  the  request  of  the  Board, 
visited  and  aided  them  in  such  a  manner  that  three 
children  from  these  two  families  united  with  the 
church.  Thus  began  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
Brooklyn. 

Nothing  systematic  was  done  until  February  8, 
1897,  when  Alice  J.   Boone  was  assigned  by  the 

General    Mission    Board    to    go    to 
"5^  .  ^"     Brooklyn  after  visiting  some  of  the 

eastern  churches,  and  to  open  up  a 
mission  there.  T.  T.  Myers  assisted  her  in  organ- 
izing the  first  Sunday-school  on  April  2,  1897,  there 
being  twelve  in  attendance. 

In  the  following  June  the  General  Mission  Board 
asked  Christian  Hope  to  locate  in  Brooklyn  with- 

out  his  family,  and  to  do  what  he 

Communion        ^^''^"^    towards    establishing    a    mis- 
sion, and  report  the  outlook  to  the 
next  meeting.    He  spent  two  months,  baptized  the 
wife  of  one  of  the  two  brethren  w'ho  located  first, 

205 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

and  the  first  communion,  in  which  some  seven  or 
eight  participated,  was  held.  After  hearing  Brother 
Hope's  report  in  the  August  meeting,  it  was  decided 
''  that  the  mission  be  closed  till  next  spring,  that 
Sister  Alice  J.  Boone  visit  the  churches  and  raise  a 
fund  to  open  up  more  effectual  work;  that  Brother 
Hope  return  to  his  family  and  work  in  Kansas  and 
Nebraska."  Sister  Boone's  success  among  the 
churches  is  not  recorded.  At  this  meeting  J.  Kurtz 
Miller  was  "  appointed  minister  in  charge  "  but  did 
not  accept,  for  he  had  not  yet  completed  his  prepa- 
ration for  mission  work. 

Evidently  aggressive  work  was  being  done 
among  the  children,  both  in  the  Sunday-school  and 
industrial  avenues,  for  in  January, 
sfrr^^'^^  1899,  there  was  a  request  for  $100 
for  a  gymnasium.  Two  members  of 
the  Mission  Board  were  assigned  to  visit  the  mis- 
sion and  report  on  its  needs.  Sister  Boone  at  this 
point  withdrawing  from  the  mission,  J.  Edson  Ulery 
and  wife  assumed  the  care  of  the  mission  in  June, 
1899.  On  October  4,  1899,  S.  F.  Sanger  and  A.  B. 
Barnhart  assisted  in  organizing  the  body  of  be- 
lievers, now  consisting  of  five  brethren  and  five 
sisters,  into  a  congregation,  known  as  the  "  First 
Church  of  the  Brethren."  The  bishop  chosen  was 
George  S.  Rairigh,  of  Maryland.  Brother  Ulery  was 
advanced  to  the  second  degree  of  the  ministry  and 
the  mission  took  on  new  life. 

The  mission's  greatest  need  was  a  suitable  place 
of  worship.  A  store  room  fitted  up  would  do,  but 
did  not  make  the  right  kind  of  an  impression.  Then, 
because  a  saloon  would  pay  higher  rent,  the  mission 

206 


One  Organization. 

had  to  move.  All  this  urged  the  necessity  of  the 
congregation  owning  its  place  of 
Greatest  Need  worship.  However,  the  time  was 
not  at  hand  when  this  could  be 
done.  Reenforcement  was  added  in  the  person  of 
Elizabeth  Grater,  in  February,  1900;  and  the  East- 
ern District  of  Pennsylvania  was  asked  to  take  su- 
pervision of  the  newly-organized  congregation. 
After  spending  some  months  in  the  mission,  Broth- 
er Ulery  was  convinced  that  the  place  of  meeting 
was  not  well  located  at  the  corner  of  Sixtieth  and 
Third  Avenue,  and  suggested  a  change.  The  sug- 
gestion was  not  granted,  but  he  was  encouraged  to 
press  forward.  However,  the  mission  was  moved 
to  5901  Third  Avenue  and  a  day-school  was  opened  on 
condition  that  it  would  not  entail  any  expense  upon 
the  Board.  Through  this  and  the  Sunday-school,  a 
large  number  of  children  became  regular  attendants 
at  the  mission. 

It  was  during  1900  that  John  Caruso,  an  Italian, 
dedicated  his  heart  to  the  Lord,  and  gave  $60  to- 
wards beginning  a  mission  among  his 
The  Italian        ^^^  people.     Brother  Barnhart  was 
Mission  .         ,  .  ,       .         ,  . 

assigned    to    provide    for    this    new 

phase  of  the  work,  and  to  expend  not  to  exceed  $20 
per  month.  A  mission  was  opened  at  207  Twenty- 
first  Street,  and  thus  far,  in  its  activities,  thirty 
Italians,  including  Brother  Caruso's  parents,  two 
brothers  and  a  sister,  have  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  The  Sunday-school  has  an  enroll- 
ment of  150 ;  the  rent  for  the  mission  is  $30  per 
month,  $20  of  which  is  appropriated  by  the  Board. 

207 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

In  September,  1901,  much  to  the  regret  of  the 
Board,  Brother  and  Sister  Ulery  withdrew  from  the 

«  „        ,,.„      mission  and  entered  other  fields  of 
J.  Kurtz  Miller     ,        u      4.-   v       -ru     r)       j 
as  Pastor  church  activity.  The  Board  again  in- 

vited J.  Kurtz  Miller  to  assume  pas- 
toral care  of  the  mission.  He  accepted,  and  on  No- 
vember 29,  1901,  he  preached  his  first  sermon,  ad- 
ministered baptism  to  two  young  sisters,  and  offi- 
ciated at  a  communion  where  fifteen  of  the  mission 
members  communed, 

In  May,  1902,  Brother  Miller  came  before  the 
Board  and  made  a  "  report  of  the  work  in  Brooklyn. 
It   was   decided   to  made  a  call  for 
-  funds  to  purchase  a  lot  in  Brooklyn 

and  to  build  a  house  of  worship. 
Brother  Miller  and  Geo.  S.  Rairigh  were  appointed 
solicitors,  with  authority  to  devise  and  prosecute 
plans  for  raising  needed  funds  for  lot  and  house. 
Elizabeth  Howe  was  appointed  as  assistant  in  the 
mission.  Sister  Grater  withdrawing."  At  the  meet- 
ing September,  1903,  the  General  Mission  Board 
made  another  effort  to  turn  the  mission  over  to  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania,  stating  that  it 
would  take  care  of  the  mission  financially,  if  the 
District  would  assume  further  supervision.  The 
effort  was  unsuccessful. 

Time  went   on.     For  six  years   Brother   Miller 

threw  his  might  into  raising  the  needed  funds  for 

a    suitable    church    and    parsonage. 

_"*    Tt  d  January   10,   1905,  a   plot  of  ground 

omp  e  e  66x100  feet  at  358  Sixtieth  Street  was 

bought  at  a  cost  of  $4,300.    A  committee,  consist- 

208 


Plate    3 


Opposite    208 


The  Olberlioltzer  Home,   Near  Trotwood,   Ohio,  Where  the 
First   General   Mission   Board  Met  in   1880. 

(Read  Page   77,   Photo  in   1913.) 


The  D.  Ij.  Miller  Home,  Where  the  General  Mission  Board 
Met  While  the  Office  Was  in  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois. 

(Photo   in   1S89.) 


One  Organization 

ing  of  A.  B.  Barnhart,  J.  Kurtz  Miller,  Ephraim 
Strayer,  with  "  D.  L.  Miller  added  as  honorary 
member,"  was  appointed  to  provide  plans  for  build- 
ing-. Brethren  Barnhart  and  Strayer  did  not  serve 
and  Chas.  D.  Bonsack  and  W.  D.  Miller  took  their 
places.  At  the  Springfield,  Illinois,  Conference,  of 
1906,  plans  were  submitted  and  adopted  by  the 
Board.  Ground  was  broken  on  April  29,  1908,  the 
year  of  our  Bicentennial  commemoration,  and  seven 
months  later,  on  November  29,  the  church  and  par- 
sonage, including  lot,  costing  $29,300,  were  dedicated 
free  of  debt,  a  monument  to  the  generosity  of  a 
Brotherhood  who  desired  to  see  a  good  church  home 
in  Brooklyn.  There  was  about  $400  overplus,  which 
was  turned  over  to  the  World-wide  Mission  Fund. 
On  the  day  of  dedication  the  Brooklyn  member- 
ship was  thirty.  There  has  been  a  steady  and 
healthy  growth  since,  until,  at  the  beginning  of 
1913,  the  membership  was  115,  and  the  Sunday- 
school  enrollment  275. 

The  Brooklyn  church  and  parsonage  have  been  a 
home  not  only  for  the  flock  and  its  adherents,  re- 
siding in  the  city,  but  also  for  the 
Growth  brethren  and  sisters  from  out  of  the 

city,  coming  there.  It  has  been  a 
blessed  home, — a  resting  and  waiting  place 
for  outgoing  and  returning  missionaries,  while  in 
the  city.  Several  of  the  rooms  in  the  parsonage 
have  been  furnished  by  a  few  congregations  and 
some  friends,  and  those  who  have  enjoyed  them 
have  gone  away  thankful  for  such  splendid  provis- 
ions within  the  bounds  of  Greater  New  York.    The 

209 


Missions   in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

growth  of  the  church  is  encouraging.  Its  member- 
ship has  increased  among  the  middle  class, — ^bread 
winners  they  are,  it  is  true,  but  quite  willing  to  bear 
their  share  of  the  burden.  In  fact,  they  are  bear- 
ing each  year  more  and  more  of  the  financial  obliga- 
tions of  the  church.  Looking  towards  self-support, 
in  1908  the  monthly  allowance  from  the  Board  was 
reduced  to  $90,  covering  both  EngHsh  and  Italian 
work;  in  1909  to  $80. 

In  1911  a  part  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  New  Jer- 
sey and  New  York  was  formed  into  a  new  State 
District.  As  soon  as  the  District  Mis- 
Spiritual  gj^^  Board  was  appointed,  the  Brook- 
lyn congregation,  with  its  large  field, 
Greater  New  York,  was  transferred  to  the  care  of 
the  new  District  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held 
in  York,  Pennsylvania,  May  31,  1912.  While  by  this 
act  the  congregation  is  under  a  State  District,  it 
shall,  because  of  its  unique  position  in  the  largest 
city  of  the  land,  always  hold  a  large  interest  in  the 
thought  and  prayers  of  the  Brotherhood. 

A  summarized  financial  statement  of  the  Brooklyn 
congregation  for  the  year  1912,  as  pubHshed  by 
them  in  printed  form,  is  of  interest: 

Receipts 

Home  District  Mission  Fund, $     64.87 

Foreign  Mission  Fund: 

Balance,    $       5-35 

Donations,    31.65     $     37.00 

Pastor's  Fund: 

Balance,  $     76.61 

Offerings,    198.76    $   275.37 

210 


One  Organization 

General  Church  and  Sunday-school  Fund: 

Balance,    $       3.05 

Church,    280.39 

Sunday-school, 156.03 

Pledges,    27.31     $   466.78 

$844.02 

Expenditures 

Sent  to  District  Conference,   $     64.87 

Sent  to  Annual  Conference, 37.00 

Pastor's  Fund,    180.00 

General  Church  and  S.  S.  Fund: 

Light,  $     57.97 

Coal,  185.00 

Sunday-school   supplies,    71.68 

Repairs,   11.95 

Taxes,    76.78 

Janitor,    60.00 

District  Conference  Assessment,   ....  3.40    $   466.78 

$  748.65 
Balance  of  Pastor's  fund,  95.37 

$  844.02 
J.  C.  Maugans,  Treas. 
A,  P.  Geib,  Assistant  Treas. 

We,  the  Auditing  Committee,  find  the  Treasurer's  Finan- 
cial  Report  for  the  year   1912  correct. 

Cash  Tellers:  Alfred  Marum,  1915;  Lillian  Struss,  1914; 
Ada  Oldham,  1913. 

Auditors:  Ada  Oldham,  1914;  Waldo  Strayer,  1913;  Mar- 
tin Texiere,  1912. 

On  April  1,  1897,  the  General  Mission  Board  came 
into  possession  of  the  Brethren  Publishing  House 
and  created 

211 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

The  Publishing  Department 

When,  in  1893,  the  General  Mission  Board  and 
the  Book  and  Tract  Work  were  united,  the  consti- 
tution for  the  new  organization  pro- 

Ab^t^*  ^^^"^  ^^^^^  ^^^^'  ^^^"  suitable  arrange- 
ments could  be  made  and  wisdom 
dictated,  the  General  Mission  Board  should  own 
and  control  all  the  publishing  interests  of  the  church 
(Art.  3,  Report  of  Committee  on  Consolidation, 
Annual  Meeting  of  1893).  In  May,  1896,  D.  Van- 
iman  was  employed  by  the  General  Mission  Board 
as  "  General  Traveling  Secretary  "  to  give  all  his 
time  to  the  work.  He  believed  the  time  at  hand 
when  the  church  should  own  her  publishing  inter- 
ests. This  conviction  was  strengthened  by  the  fact 
that  as  early  as  1882  some  of  the  brethren  favored 
the  church  taking  over  the  publishing  interests.  On 
D.  L.  Miller's  return  from  his  first  tour  of  the  world 
he  made  a  proposition  to  Brother  Vaniman  that  led 
to  a  plan  to  raise  the  necessary  amount  by  donations 
on  the  annuity  plan. 

When  the  General  Mission  Board  met  at  Eliza- 

bethtown,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  home  of  B.  G.  GrofT, 

for  its  regular  meeting,  on  Septem- 

_  .    J  ber  28,   1896,   Brother  Vaniman   re- 

Raised  '    , 

ported    that    the    necessary    amount 

had  been  raised,  and  that  arrangements  had  been 
completed  for  the  transfer  of  all  the  stock  to  the 
Board.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  to  the  do- 
nors, and  a  copy  of  their  subscriptions  was  entered 
on  the  minutes  of  the  Board. 

The  following  was  the  form  of  subscription  used 

212 


One  Organization 

for  this  move  that  has  since  proved 

Subscription       '"^^  ^  ^^'^^  ^^^^°'  ^"  ^^^  advance- 
ment  of  the  mission  interests  of  the 

church : 

For  the  purpose  of  purchasing  the  stock  of  the  Brethren 
Publishing  Company  at  par  value  (500  shares  at  $100  per 
share, — $50,000)  the  same,  when  purchased,  to  be  turned 
over  to  the  General  Mission  Board  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  the  iiicome  to  be  used  for  missionary  putpoises 
at  home  and  in  foreign  lands,  I  hereby  agree  to  give  and 
donate  the  sum  hereto  subscribed  and  set  opposite  my 
name. 

In  consideration  of  which  gift  the  said  Board  shall  exe- 
cute a  bond,  obligating  itself  to  pay  each  subscriber  an- 
nually the  per  cent  affixed  thereto  on  the  amount  paid 
by  said  subscriber:  and  at  the  death  of  said  subscriber, 
and  husband  and  wife,  when  designated  in  the  bond,  said 
bond  shall  become  null  and  void. 

Further,  it  is  expressly  agreed  and  understood  that  this 
subscription  shall  not  be  in  force  until  arrangements  are 
made  to  secure  all  the  stock  of  the  said  Brethren  Publish- 
ing Company. 

Subscriber.  Rate.  Amt.  Annuitants. 

D     L     Miller 6  $25,250  D.   L.  Miller  and  wife. 

Jos.    Amick.    —  1,000 

Jos     Amick 6  1,000  Jos.   Amick  and  wife. 

Jos    C.   Lahman 6  500  Jos.  Lahman  and  wife. 

I.    J.    Rosenbergcr,    ..    6  1,000  I.  J.  Rosenberger  and   wife. 

Susan   Bashore 6  500  Susan  Barliore. 

Michael    Byerly 6  500  Michiael  Byerly. 

S    W.   Hoover  Est.,  . .    6  3,000  S.  W.  Hoover  and  wife. 

Lutz   Est.,    Illinois,    .  . —  300 

Sarah  Wolgamuth.    . .   6  4,500  Sarah  Wolgramuth. 

Lydia  Brumbaugh,    . .    6  2,000  Lydia   Brumbaugh. 

Samuel  Wenger 6  200  Samuel  and  Eliz.  Wenger. 

Covina  farm —  5,000 

New      E  n  t  e  rp  rise 

Church      6  250  To  church  for  16  years. 

Mary  S.  Gelger,    6  2,000  Mary  S.  Geiger. 

Julia  Ulrey  estate,... —  400  ,   „   „         ^        ^       ^      .^ 

J.    B.    Brumbaugh,...    6  1,000  J.  B.  Brumbaugh  and  wife. 
Five     shares     already 

on   hand —  500  „  „  „         ,         ,         ^      .- 

H    B    Brumbaugh, .  .      6  1,000  H.  B.  Brumbaugh  and  wife. 

J    F    Oiler    6  1,000  J.  F.  Oiler  and  wife. 

b.  F.  Stouffer —  100 

213 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Elizabeth  Roop 6  $2'o0  Elizabeth  Roop. 

A.   &  Eliz.   Eng-Iar,...    6  209  A.  &  Eliz.  Englar. 

Eliz.    Englar 5  170  Eliz.   Englar. 

Samuel  Hoffman 6  100  Samuel  Hoffman. 

Margaret   Hoffman,    ..6  50  Margaret    Hoffman. 

Eliz.    Switzer 5  100  Eliz.   Switzer. 

Margaret   Englar,          —  25 

Jacob    Stoner,    —  100 

J.  C.  Rinehart,    —  125 

D.   Stoner,    6  100  D.   Stoner. 

Sallie  E.   Stoner,    6  100  Sallie    E.    Stoner. 

Annie  E.   Stoner,    ....    6  100  Annie  R.  Stoner. 

Lydia  R.   Little —  25 

Margaret   Englar,    ... —  10 

John    Leester 5  200  John    Leester. 

Margaret  Royer,    . . . . —  10 

John    Haflebower.    .    .    5  100  John    Haflebower. 

Violetta   Haflebower,.    5  100  Vloletta  M.  Haflebower. 

Elizabeth   Gibbel    6  100  Elizabeth    Gibbel. 

Lizzie   B.    Becker 6  100  Lizzie  B.  Becker. 

A   W    Mentzer —  100  Gospel  Messenger  for  life. 

J.  B.  Keller —  10 

Isaac  Prantz  &  wife,.  6  100  Isaac  Prantz  and  wife. 

I    D    Parker 6  1.500  I.  D.  Parker  and  wife. 

Jas.  R.  Gish, —  250 

At  the  same  meeting  the  donation  was  accepted, 

the    General  Mission    Board    made 

Provisions  provisions  for  the  conducting  of  the 

newly  acquired   property   after   this 

manner: 


Publication  Department  of  the  General  Mission  Board  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren 

1.  This  department  shall  embrace  the  printing  and  pub- 
lishing of  all  books,  papers,  tracts  and  periodicals  author- 
ized by  the  Board  or  the  Annual  Meeting,  and  do  a  gen- 
eral printing  and  publishing  business. 

2.  The  present  Executive  Committee  of  the  Brethren 
Publishing  Company,— D.  L.  Miller,  J.  Amick,  J.  H.  Moore 
and  H.  B.  Brumbaugh, — shall  continue  in  the  management 
of  the  publication  department  until  necessity  for  a  change 
becomes  apparent. 

3.  The  editorial  staflf  on  the  Gospel  Messenger  shall 
continue  as  at  present  constituted,  until  a  necessity  for  a 
change  becomes  apparent.  The  Executive  Committee  may 
employ  such  other  help  as  may  be  necessary. 

214 


One  Organization 

4.  Salaries: 

Business  Manager,  $70.00  per  month. 
Office  Editor,  $70.00  per  month. 
Eastern  Editor,  $500.00  per  year. 
Editor-in-chief,  $500.00  per  year. 

5.  Special  effort  shall  be  made  to  enlarge  the  circula- 
tion of  all  our  publications. 

6.  The  Business  Manager  shall  pay  over  to  the  Treas- 
urer of  the  General  Mission  Board  on  the  first  day  of  Jan- 
uary and  May  of  each  year  all  surplus  money,  as  may  be 
directed  by  the  Board,  and  shall  make  annually  a  full 
statement  of  the  business  of  the  publishing  department. 

The  foregoing  was  prepared  by  D.  L.  Miller,  and 
from  this  outline,  since  the  property  has  been  in 
the  hands  of  the  Board,  there  has  been  practically 
no  variation.  Instead  of  the  Editor-in-chief  drawing 
his  salary,  as  provided,  he  donated  his  services  for 
all  these  years. 

On   October   10,   1896,   a  "Special   Notice"   ap- 
peared  in  the  Gospel  Messenger  an- 
Special  Notice    nouncing  the  acquiretnent  of  the  pub- 
lishing interests.     The  first  part  of 
this  notice  is  as  follows: 

For  some  years,  as  is  well  known  to  those  of  our  readers 
who  have  attended  our  Annual  Conferences,  efforts  have 
been  made  to  have  the  church  assume  control  of  all  her 
publishing  interests.  Those  who  were  most  anxiously 
concerned  in  this  matter  felt  that  the  profits  arising  from 
our  church  publications  should  be  used  by  the  church  in 
forwarding  her  work.  It  was  also  believed  that,  when  it 
was  known  that  the  church  owned,  controlled,  and  received 
the  profits  arising  from  such  publications,  the  circulation 
of  our  church  and  Sunday-school  papers  would  largely  in- 
crease. It  was  also  felt  that  if  the  publishing  interests  be- 
longed to  the  church,  there  would  be  no  possibility  of 
other  papers,   claiming  church   patronage,   being   started. 

215 


Missions  in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

These  were  the  feelings  and  motives  prompting  those  who 
earnestly  sought  to  induce  the  chiu'ch  to  purchase  the 
Brethren's  Publishing  Company  plant  and  property. 

But  the  question  of  raising  the  money,  the  financial 
management,  the  fear  that  if  the  concern  were  purchased 
and  placed  under  the  immediate  control  of  the  Annual 
Meeting,  it  would  not  be  well  managed,  and  other  consid- 
erations, kept  the  brethren  from  agreeing  to  accept  the 
offers  that  were  made  from  time  to  time  for  the  last 
twelve  years.  But  sentiment  kept  growing  stronger  in 
favor  of  the  church  owning  the  publishing  interests.  Many 
Brethren  who,  at  one  time,  could  not  see  their  way  clear 
to  favor  the  move,  now  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  the 
right  thing  to  do.  But  the  important  question,  as  to  where 
the  money  was  to  be  had,  was  the  great  hindrance  to.  the 
project.  In  these  hard  times  it  was  felt  that  it  would  be 
a  difficult  matter  to  raise  $50,000,  the  amount  necessary  to 
secure  the  business. 

"  Man  proposes  but  God  disposes,"  is  a  maxim  that  is 
as  true  today  as  when  it  was  first  uttered.  While  the  ques- 
tion of  raising  the  money  to  buy  the  publishing  business 
exercised  the  minds  of  those  who  were  favorable  to  the 
project,  God  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  the  owners,  and 
others,  who  were  similarly  disposed,  so  that  the  entire 
business  of  the  Brethren's  Publishing  Company  could  be 
turned  over  to  the  General  Mission  Board.  At  the  last 
meeting,  held  at  Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania,  on  Sep- 
tember 28  and  29,  the  donation  was  made  and  duly  ac- 
cepted, with  many  thanks  to  the  liberal  donors. 

The  transfer  of  the  property  was  made  March  31, 
1897,  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  for  the  retiring  com- 
pany.   In  their  giving  up  their  stock 
p.,  ^  "^  at  par,  the  stockholders  made  a  per- 

sonal donation  that  the  Brotherhood 
little  realized.  The  stock  company  was  paying 
large  dividends  and  had  not  the  stockholders  con- 
sidered the  welfare  of  the  church,  rather  than  their 

216 


One  Organization 

own  interests,  the  stock  could  not  have  been  bought 
for  double  its  par  value.  As  it  was,  the  stock  com- 
pany turned  over  not  only  the  business  with  its  good 
equipment,  but  about  $6,000  in  cash,  so  that  the  Board 
would  have  ample  means  to  push  the  business  from 
the  start  for  the  church. 

There  ^as  little  commotion  in  the  transfer.  A 
new  system  of  bookkeeping  was  installed.  Jos. 
Amick  continued  as  business  man- 
j^   ,  ager;  J.  H.  Moore,  office  editor;  D. 

L.  Miller  and  H.  B.  Brumbaugh  as 
editors.  The  first  Gospel  Messenger,  issued  under 
the  new  ownership,  makes  no  mention  of  the  trans- 
fer. At  the  subsequent  Annual  Conference  at  Fred- 
erick, Maryland,  some  entertained  fears  of  objec- 
tions when  the  Board's  report  would  be  presented 
for  passage.  But  in  that  large  delegate  body  there 
was  but  one  dissenting  vote.  Thus  the  church 
owned,  and  began  the  control,  through  the  General 
Mission  Board,  of  her  publishing  interests. 

A  number  of  important  questions  at  once  con- 
fronted the  new  management.  The  earliest,  and, 
for  the  time,  most  important  one  was 
New  Location  that  of  location.  Mt.  Morris,  Illi- 
nois, the  headquarters  of  the  publish- 
ing interests,  did  not  present  suitable  advantages  for 
the  growing  and  large  business  it  was  hoped  to  de- 
velop. A  committee  was  appointed  to  look  up  a 
location.  Many  meetings,  much  deliberation,  and 
a  number  of  places  visited  near  Chicago,  was  the 
method  of  procedure.  Chicago  was  once  selected 
and  then  abandoned  because  of  high  rents,  possible 

217 


Missions   in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

labor  troubles,  and  so  on.  At  last  Elgin,  Illinois, 
was  selected  on  February  2, 1899.  A  tract  of  ground 
where  the  present  buildings  stand,  was  bought  for 
$6,000  cash;  the  city  made  a  donation  of  $3,000  as 
an  inducement  to  locate  in  Elgin.  The  committee 
on  location  was  Joseph  Amick,  J.  H.  Moore,  A,  B. 
Barnhart,  S.  F.  Sanger  and  L.  W.  Teeter. 

On  April  1,  1899,  the  Secretary  of  the  General 

Mission  Board,  with  his  family,  arrived  in  Elgin, 

and  opened  an  office  for  the  Board  in 

gin      g  ^^^  private  room  of  Wm.  Grote.  This 

room  he  occupied  rent  free  until,  in 
September,  he  moved  into  the  new  building.  Jo- 
seph Amick,  J.  H.  Moore  and  another  brother  were  the 
Building  Committee.  During  the  summer  a  suita- 
ble brick  building  was  erected,  and  in  September, 
1899,  the  printing  outfit,  with  most  of  the  work- 
men and  their  families,  located  in  Elgin,  Illinois. 

In  one  year  it  was  seen  that  the  new  building  was 
not  large  enough.     Ground  was  excavated  at  the 

west  end,  and  a  one-story  structure 
Growth  with  walls  strong  enough   for   four 

stories  was  erected.  This  was  fol- 
lowed in  two  years  by  adding  the  other  three  sto- 
ries. In  1906,  to  meet  the  constantly-growing  busi- 
ness, the  plant  as  it  then  stood,  was  more  than 
doubled  in  floor  space, — 52,000  square  feet.  This  is 
the  present  building.  From  the  beginning,  here  has 
been  conveniently  housed  the  printing  plant,  with 
needed  editorial  rooms,  etc.,  and  the  Mission  Rooms 
of  the  General  Mission  Board.  The  purchase  of  the 
Sitock,   $50,000,    and   the   grounds    and   buildings   at 

218 


One  Organization 

Elgin,  Illinois,  are,  as  an  investment  of  the  Board, 
held  at  $130,000.  This  does  not  include  new  equip- 
ment for  which  the  earnings  of  the  House  have 
paid. 

Going  back  to  1898,  it  was  decided  that  "inas- 
much as  there  was  a  class  of  young  people  too  far 
advanced  to  be  interested  in  the 
A  New  Paper  Young  Disciple  and  yet  for  whom 
the  Gospel  Messenger  was  not  whol- 
ly adapted,  many  of  whom  were  now  reading  pa- 
pers not  in  sympathy  with  the  time-honored  prin- 
ciples of  the  Brethren,"  to  ask  Annual  Conference 
to  grant  the  publication  of  a  paper  suited  to  the 
needs  of  these  young  people.  It  was  granted.  On 
October  11,  1898,  the  Pilot  was  named  and  author- 
ized by  the  General  Mission  Board.  Grant  Mahan 
became  its  first  editor.  Soon  after  the  Landmark, 
published  in  Missouri,  through  purchase  was  ab- 
sorbed by  the  Pilot,  and  Howard  Miller  was  made 
editor  of  the  latter  publication  on  February  14,  1900. 
Through  his  suggestion  the  paper  was  changed  in 
size,  and  called  the  Inglenook.  It  kept  its  name 
but  was  destined  to  have  the  distinction  of  having 
many  editors.  Following  Howard  Miller,  who 
served  several  years,  came  E.  M.  Cobb  for  two 
years.  Next  came  Sister  Blanche  Lentz;  then  H. 
M.  Barwick  until  his  sudden  death ;  then  Blanche 
Lentz  again ;  then  S.  C.  Miller.  Considerable  funds 
were  used  in  the  promotion  of  this  periodical.  The 
beginning  of  Our  Young  People,  in  1906.  on  the 
lines  outlined,  curtailed  the  need  of  the  Inglenook 
to  some  extent.    At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  April, 

219 


Missions  in   Church  of  the  Brethren 

1913,  the  publication  of  the  Inglenook  was  ordered 
discontinued. 

The  management  of  a  publishing  plant  was  found, 
by  the  General  Mission  Board,  to  be  no  small  task, 
but  it  laid  hold  upon  the  work  with 
Management  all  the  wisdom  they  could  command. 
There  were  issued  lengthy  rules  gov- 
erning the  Executive  Committee  of  three,  who  had 
immediate  supervision  of  the  plant.  These  were 
followed,  six  months  later,  on  September  13,  1899, 
with  a  lengthy  plan,  outlining  the  management  of 
the  Publishing  House  in  all  its  departments.  On 
February  14,  1900,  an  Executive  Committee  of  five 
members  was  created.  The  committee  elected  was 
D.  L.  Miller,  five  years;  I.  Bennett  Trout,  four 
years ;  Joseph  Amick,  three  years  ;  I.  J.  Rosenberger, 
two  years;  H.  W.  Krieghbaum,  one  year.  Allowing 
for  the  duplicating  of  one  name,  this  now  meant 
that  nine  brethren  were  directing  the  affairs  of  the 
Brethren  Publishing  House, — the  five  members  of 
the  General  Mission  Board  and  the  five  members 
of  the  Executive  Committee.  Regulations  were  then 
adopted  that,  as  far  as  they  related  to  the  publishing 
interests,  did  not  permit  one  committee  to  miove 
without  the  consent  of  the  other.  This  cumbersome 
arrangement  was  abandoned  in  about  two  years. 

The  time  came,  in  the  life  of  Joseph  Amick,  that 

he  felt  he  should  lay  off  office  cares,  as  they  were 

rapidly    growing   in    the    Publishing 

-A  Good  Record  House.    His  record  had  been  a  good 

one.     About  twenty  years  before  he 

and  D.  L.  Miller  took  up  the  paper  at  Mt.  Morris,  II- 

220 


One  Organization 

linois,  when  it  was  stranded  financially,  made  a  fi- 
nancial success  of  it,  and  helped  to  develop  the  insti- 
tution to  that  point  of  usefulness  that  it  was  when 
turned  over  to  the  church, — a  most  influential  as 
well  as  lucrative  business.  He  then  directed  its 
finances  under  the  new  management  until,  April  29, 
1902,  his  resignation  was  accepted  and  T.  F.  Imler 
was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  In  the  fall  of  1903 
Brother  Imler  resigned,  and  on  January  1,  1904, 
Robert  E.  Arnold  assumed  charge  as  manager. 
Under  his  direction  the  printing  interests  have 
grown,  though  there  have  been  many  perplexing 
problems  to  meet. 

The  policy  of  the  General  Mission  Board  has  al- 
ways been  aggressive.  The  way  to  develop  busi- 
ness was  to  go  after  it.  Hence,  early 
Field  Workers  in  its  management,  it  created  the 
office  of  "  Field  Worker,"  it  being  the 
business  of  those  thus  appointed  to  visit  the 
churches,  adjust  dissatisfactions  growing  out  of 
misunderstandings,  introduce  the  church's  litera- 
ture, and  explain  the  advantages  and  interests  of 
the  Publishing  House.  In  this  capacity  E.  M.  Cobb 
served  first ;  then  John  Heckman,  Virgil  C.  Finnell, 
and  John  E.  Metzger.  Each  of  these  did  splendid 
work  in  making  the  church's  literature  more  gener- 
ally used. 

With  the  enlarged  facilities,  made  by  building  in 
1906,  and  the  installation   of  one  of 
Job  Work  the  best  outfits  in  the  West,  the  Pub- 

lishing   House    job    department    was 
ready  to  do  a  large  line  of  commercial  printing  and 

221 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

book  making.  Since  this  equipment,  the  department 
has  been  making  annually,  on  an  average,  about  800,- 
000  hard-bound  books,  besides  pamphlets  and  other 
printing,  and  the  regular  publications  and  periodicals 
of  the  church. 

On  May  28,  1906,  George  B.  Holsinger  was  em- 
ployed as  musical  editor.     Through  his  labors  and 
the    assistance    of    others,    "  Gospel 
Music  Editor      Songs  and  Hymns  No.  1,"  then  the 
present     "  Hymnal "     and     "  Hymn 
Book,"  and  then  "  Song  Praises  "  were  issued,  each 
having  a  large  circulation.    After  his  death,  no  one 
was  appointed  in  his  place,  but  in  1911  I.  Bennett 
Trout  and  another  brother  completed  the  compila- 
tion of  "  Kingdom  Songs," — a  book  that  has  exceed- 
ed all  others  in  general  use  and  satisfaction. 
Not  unmindful  of  the  good  missionary  effect  that 
.    .  the    Gospel    Messenger    has    in    new 

.,     *  homes    everywhere,    on    Augfust    6, 

Messengers  .  ,       ,  * 

1904,    a    special    plan    for   this    pur- 
pose was  adopted,  as  follows  : 

For  missionary  purposes  alone  (i.  e.,  to  try  to  lead  the 
party  receiving  the  "Messenger"  to  accept  the  faith  of 
Jesus  Christ,  as  believed  by  the  Brethren,  and  in  no  way 
to  aid  one  now  a  member  to  have  access  to  it)  the  "  Gos- 
pel Messenger  "  may  hereafter  be  furnished  through  Dis- 
trict Boards,  through  all  missionaries  of  the  Breth'ren 
church  under  appointment  by  any  Board,  through  agents 
of  the  Brethren  Publishing  House,  and  through  individ- 
uals who  wish  to  do  missionary  work  in  this  manner,  to 
any  and  all  persons  except  the  following: 

1.  All  those  who  are  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

2.  All  those  in  a  family,  any  member  of  which  is  a  mem- 

222 


One  Organization 

ber  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  (By  member  is  meant 
to  include  anyone  who  abides  in  the  house  though  he  or 
she  be  no  relation  to  the  family.) 

3.  Terms.  The  sender  must  make  definite  statement 
each  time,  that  he  knows  the  names  sent  in  comply  fully 
with  rules  one  and  two,  and  are  in  full  accord  with  the 
purposes  set  forth  in  the  beginning. 

The  personnel  of  the  Messenger  has  changed  little, 

J.  H.  Moore  has  been  office  editor  through  these 

years.    Those  on  the  stafif  in  1897  are 

esse  g  g^.jj  .^  service:  and  L.  A.  Plate  was 

Editors 

added  as  assistant  office  editor,  while 

H.  C.  Early  and  Grant  Mahan  were  made  corre- 
sponding editors.  Its  columns,  through  the  years, 
have  given  expression  to  the  best  thought  of  the 
Brotherhood.  Here  one  finds  the  sentiment  that 
moved  the  Brotherhood  in  any  period  of  its  exist- 
ence. From  a  circulation  of  14,024  in  1897  it  has  in- 
creased to  26,000  at  the  present  time. 

Soon    after    acquiring    the    publishing    plant,    the 
General  Mission  Board  created  a  Sunday-school  De- 
partment and  secured  the  services  of 

-, ,.  ^^"  I.  Bennett  Trout  to  head  it.     Under 

Editor 

his  editorial  labors  this  department 
has  become  a  large  factor  in  the  life  of  the  church. 
When  Brother  Trout  took  charge,  the  Sunday- 
school  Department  was  issuing  a  Juvenile  Quarter- 
ly, an  Advanced  Quarterly,  Boys  and  Girls,  Children 
at  Work.  Now,  in  addition  to  these  we  have  Our 
Young  People  and  Teachers'  Monthly.  The  Depart- 
ment, with  the  General  Mission  Board  directing  and 
assisting,  has  grappled  with  some  of  the  big  prob- 
lems of  the  Sunday-school  world.    True,  the  Graded 

223 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Lesson  problem  has  not  been  solved  yet.  Neverthe- 
less, for  over  six  years  it  has  been  under  serious  con- 
templation and  considerable  means  and  time  have  been 
spent  in  its  solution. 

Contrary  to  the  fears,  expressed  by  some,  sixteen 
years  ago,  that  the  publishing  interests  would  be- 
come a  burden  of  expense  upon  the 
A  Great  Brotherhood,  it  has  proved  just  the 

Advantage  opposite.    These  are  some  of  the  ad- 

vantages which  have  followed : 

Better  periodicals. 

More  than  double  the  circulation  and  influence  of 
the  ones  in  use  at  time  of  transfer. 

More  periodicals. 

Better  made  books. 

A  total  of  $107,713.10  for  the  sixteen  years,  turned 
over  to  the  General  Mission  Board  to  meet  inci- 
dental expenses  of  the  buildings,  and  missionary 
purposes  of  the  church. 

From  the  very  beginning  it  has  been  the  policy 
of  the  Publishing  House  not  to  print  any  thing  not 
in  accord  with  the  principles  of  the 
The  Policy  Church.  For  instance,  it  would  not 
manufacture  a  book  advocating  secret 
societies.  While  now  and  then  some  publication 
may  have  been  manufactured  that  was  not  in  full 
accord  with  this  rule,  to  the  very  letter,  in  the  main 
the  commercial  printing  has  consisted  of  religious, 
educational,  song  and  school  books  for  other  pub- 
lishers. 

The  contrast,  after  sixteen  years  of  development, 
Contrast  is  striking,  as  seen  in  the  following: 

224 


Plate    4 


Opposite    224 


James  Rufus   and  Barbara   Gisli. 

Founders  of  the  Gish   Publishing  Fund,   the  Gish  Testament 
Fund,  and  the  Ministerial  and  Missionary  Relief  Fund. 


One  Organization 

1897  1913 

Floor  space,  in  square  feet,  5,000  52,000 

Business  Manager's  salary,  $840.00  $2,000.00 

Editor  of  Gospel  Messenger, 840.00  1,200.00 

Assistant  editor, 1,100.00 

Sunday-school   editor,    1,200.00 

Volume  of  business,  $108,000.00  592,000 

Circulation   of   the   Messenger,   14,024  26,000 

The  publishing  department  is  in  the  beginning-  of 
a  large  usefulness.     Its  manager  and  his  superinr- 

tendent,  A.  H.  Rittenhouse,  along 
Just  Begun         with  the  editors,  foremen  and  other 

employes,  who  have  proved  faithful, 
have  shown  themselves  capable  men  and  women. 
Some  of  those  who  labored  that  the  church  might 
own  its  publishing  interests,  died  in  the  faith  that 
it  would  do  good ;  others  have  lived  to  see  the  good, 
herein  recounted.  Surely,  all  have  occasion  to  re- 
joice and  thank  God. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  February  15,  1898, 
it  was  decided  "  to  encourage  the  congregational 
collection  as  well  as  individual  dona- 
Annual  ^jQj^g  ^^  ^j^^  coming  Annual  Meetinef. 
Missionary  t  i-  •  i  i  i  •  , 
Offerings            Individual  donations  are  urged  to  be 

not  less  than  one  dollar."  This  was 
the  beginning  of  uniting  the  gifts  of  the  congrega- 
tions of  the  Brotherhood,  along  with  those  of  indi- 
viduals, into  one  grand  offering  on  "  Missionary 
Day  "  at  General  Conference,  which  offerings  have 
grown  until  the  last  one,  at  Winona  Lake,  Indiana, 
in  1913,  was  $20,796.63.  See  appendix  for  each  year's 
Conference  offering. 

225 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

At  the  same  meeting  a  plan  was  adopted,  the 
purpose   of   which   was    to   develop 

Rural  Districts  the  congregations  in  the  rural  dis- 
tricts and  reach  out  into  near  by  un- 

evangelized  territory.    The  plan  is  as  follows : 

1.  That  greater  effort  be  made  to  build  up  churches  and 
make  them  self-sustaining  in  rural  districts,  villages  and 
suburban  towns. 

2.  To  reach  such  places  in  State  Districts  let  the  Gen- 
eral Board  urge  State  Boards  to  push  the  work  into  every 
favorable  place  within  their  territory. 

3.  To  reach  those  outside  of  State  Districts,  let  the  Gen- 
eral Board  institute,  in  these  places,  pioneer  work  on  the 
colporter  plan  as  follows: 

(a)  Let  the  Board  send  out  suitable  young  brethren  and 
sisters  to  sell  books,  Bibles,  papers,  distribute  tracts 
and  look  up  favorable  fields  for  missions  and  regular  min- 
isterial work. 

(b)  Let  the  Board  select  and  put  into  their  hands  such 
books  and  papers,  both  from  our  own  publications  and  oth- 
ers, as  will  be  helpful  in  laying  a  good  foundation  for  per- 
manent church  work. 

(c)  As  our  own  publications  are  not  sufficient  to  do.  the 
work  needed,  let  the  Board  encourage  the  publication  of 
more  books  on  live  subjects  by  our  own  talent. 

(d)  Should  the  income  from  the  sale  of  books  and  pa- 
pers be  insufficient  to  cover  expenses,  and  a  fair  com- 
pensation for  time,  then  let  the  Board  make  up  the  de- 
ficiency. 

The  greatest  regret  is  that  this  plan  has  never 
been  put  into  operation.  In  it  are  the  necessary 
elements  for  an  onward  campaign  that  should  mean 
much  to  the  Brotherhood  everywhere. 

Annual  Conference  of  1898  made  several  impor- 

226 


One  Organization 

taut  decisions  relating  to  mission  work.     A  query 

was  before  it,  askinef  that  no  person 
Disabled  ^,         .     ^  ^  f,, 

-,.    .        .  serve  more  than  two  terms,  of  three 

Missionaries  ^       ^  . 

years  each,  on  the  General  Mission 

Board.  This  was  not  granted.  A  report  providing 
for  disabled  missionaries,  and  to  give  reliable  infor- 
mation concerning  public  calamities  so  that  the 
churches  would  not  be  imposed  upon  in  their  giving, 
was  passed.    It  is  as  follows : 

(1)  That  the  General  Mission  Board  be  authorized  and 
encouraged  to  solicit  and  receive  additional  donations  and 
bequests  to  the  Gish  Fund  as  a  suitable  and,  for  the  time 
being,  sufficient  plan  to  assist  superannuated  and  disabled 
missionaries  and  ministers  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  their  families,  who  have  no  other  sufficient  means  of 
support.  Said  Board  to  decide  who  is  entitled  to  such  as- 
sistance and  to  what  extent,  all  applicants,  not  directly 
under  the  care  of  the  Board  to  have  recommendations 
from  their  home  church  and  from  their  District  Mission- 
ary Committee,  or  from  their  District  Meeting. 

(2)  That  it  be  made  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  Brethren  Publishing  House  to  give  reliable 
information  and  direction  to  the  churches  through  the 
press  (and  otherwise,  if  need  be)  in  cases  of  general  des- 
titution or  public  calamity,  in  which  duty  prompts  assist- 
ance, and  direct  the  distribution  of  such  charities. 

Section  two  has  been  observed  and  has  proved  a 
good  safeguard.  Section  one  was  practically  inac- 
tive until  after  the  Gish  Estate  was  turned  over  to 
the  General  Mission  Board.  The  following  are  the 
splendid  provisions  of  the  Ministerial  and  Missionary 
Relief  Fund,  as  well  as  the  Gish  Publishing  Fund : 


227 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Ministerial  and  Missionary  Relief  Fund 

Through  the  provisions  of  the  Barbara  Gish  es- 
tate the  General  Mission  Board  came  into  possession 
of  funds  to  care  for  disabled  and  infirm  ministers 
and  their  wives.  Income  for  this  fund  was  received 
and  some  of  it  expended  in  1901.  However,  not  until 
1904  ^as  a  plan  submitted  and  approved  by  the  An- 
nual Conference,  regulating  it.  •  The  plan  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

1.  This  fund  shall  be  used  for  the  support  of  aged  and 
infirm  missionaries  and  ministers  in  good  standing  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  who  may  be  left  without  other 
means  of  support.  It  shall  be  under  the  management  of 
the  General  Mission  Board  of  said  church. 

2.  The  fund  shall  be  composed  of  twenty  per  cent  of  the 
Gish  Fund,  twenty  per  cent  of  the  earnings  of  the  Breth- 
ren Publishing  House,  annually  set  apart  for  mission 
work,  cash  donations,  income  from  endowments,  either 
by  direct  bequest,  gift  or  on  the  annuity  plan,  and  by 
money  received  from  those  who  enjoy  a  full  support  from 
the  fund. 

3.  No  one  shall  receive  aid  from  this  fund  who  is  able 
to  support  himself,  or  who  has  sufficient  income  to  keep 
him  in  a  comfortable  home  and  afford  him  the  necessities 
of  life,  or  who  has  sons  or  daughters  who  are  able  and 
willing  to  give  the  aid  sought. 

4.  No  one  shall  receive  full  support  from  the  fund  unless 
all  money  or  property  that  he  may  have  be  turned  over 
to  the  Board,  to  be  invested,  and  the  interest  used  for  the 
aid  of  the  beneficiaries  of  the  fund.  If  the  beneficiary  is  in 
possession  of  a  home,  he  shall  deed  it  to  the  Board  for 
endowment,  retaining  the  use  of  the  same  for  himself 
and  widow,  if  he  leave  one  during  their  life-time. 

5.  In  order  to  receive  aid  from  the  fund,  application 
must  be  made  to  the  congregation  in  which  the  one  de- 
siring aid  has  his  membership.  The  applicant  must  have 
served  the  church  faithfully  as  a  missionary  or  minister, 

228 


One  Organization 

and  must  be  in  good  standing  in  the  church  when  the  ap- 
plication is  made. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  congregation  carefully  to 
investigate  the  needs  of  the  applicant,  his  means  of  sup- 
port, and  property  owned  by  him,  and  if  the  applicant 
comes  within,  and  complies  with,  the  rules  governing  the 
fund,  a  formal  application  may  be  made,  signed  by  the 
elder  in  charge  of  the  church  and  by  at  least  one  minister 
or  deacon.  This  shall  be  made  on  printed  blanks,  to  be 
furnished  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Board.  No  application 
for  aid  will  be  considered  unless  made  on  blanks  supplied 
for  that  purpose. 

7.  Upon  the  death  of  the  beneficiary,  the  aid  shall  cease 
unless  he  leaves  a  widow,  who  shall  receive  such  aid  from 
the  fund  as  the  church  in  which  she  lives  may  consider 
her  entitled  to.  Widows  of  missionaries  and  ministers 
may  receive  aid  from  the  fund  under  the  rules  provided 
for  their  husbands. 

8.  The  Board  shall  not  incur  any  indebtedness  on  ac- 
count of  the  fund,  and  may  grant  aid  only  when  there  is 
money  on  hand  to  pay  the  required  amount. 

A  Statement  of  the  fund,  thus  used  through  the 
years,  may  prove  of  interest.    It  is  as  follows : 


Receipts 

Expend. 

Receipts 

Expend. 

$       *5.00 

1901, 

$   360.49 

$    160.00 

*560.00 

$   348.00 

1902, 

1,241.27 

246.00 

1911, 

*5.46 

1903, 

981.49 

246.00 

♦1,527.20 

1904, 

827.55 

96.00 

430.94 

570.00 

1905, 

512.80 

144.00 

1912, 

♦1,560.00 

•  •  •  •  • 

1906, 

772.91 

207.00 

447.84 

717.50 

1907, 

530.33 

1913, 

♦1,540.00 

*1,474.19 

318.00 

464.72 

940.00 

1908, 

681.91 

Bal.  on 

♦1,016.34 

486.00 

hand. 

$10,921.87 

1909 

472  42 

469  34 

1  ^/\J^y 

1910, 

456.85 

TV-'iV" 

$15,869.71 

$15,869.71 

♦From  the  Brethren  Publishing  House. 

229 


Missions   in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Gish  Publishing  Fund 

In  December,  1897,  Sister  Barbara  Gish,  widow  of 
James  R.  Gish,  willed  all  her  property  to  the  Gen- 
eral Mission  Board  of  the  Church  of 

xecu  e  ^j^     Brethren,  and  directed  that  her 

Own  Will  .,,  ,  '  ,         , 

will  be  executed  at  once,  so  that  she 

would  know  for  herself  that  her  wishes  had  been 
carried  out.  Her  property  consisted  of  notes,  mort- 
gages and  real  estate  in  Illinois,  Arkansas  and  Kansas, 
in  all  amounting  to  between  $50,000  and  $60,000.  In  her 
will  Sister  Gish  requested  that  certain  sums,  aggre- 
gating about  $10,000,  be  paid  to  her  nearest  relatives 
both  on  her  deceased  husband's  and  her  own  side  of 
the  family.  The  balance  of  the  estate, — using  the 
exact  words  of  the  will, — was  to  be  a  "  fund  of 
benevolence,  to.be  knOwn  as  the  James  R.  and  Bar- 
bara Gish  Publishing  and  Missionary  and  Ministe- 
rial Aid  Fund,  or  by  any  other  suitable  name  that 
the  above-named  Board  may  select.  Said  fund  may 
be  indefinitely  increased  by  additional  donations,  se- 
curely invested,  and  the  income  therefrom  used  at 
the  option  of  the  Board  for  the  production,  pub- 
lication, or  distribution,  free  of  cost,  or  at  greatly 
reduced  rates,  to  all  ministers  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  such  books  and  other  printed  matter  as 
may,  by  the  Board,  be  deemed  most  helpful  in  ad- 
vancing and  sustaining  the  Truth ;  or  it  may,  in  part, 
be  used  for  the  support  of  superannuated  mission- 
aries and  ministers  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  their  families,  or  in  World-wide  Mission  work, 
as  the  above-named  Board  may,  in  their  discretion, 
determine." 

230 


One  Organization 

The  General  Mission  Board  at  once  took  charge  of 

all  the  properties,  and  issued  a  bond  of  annuity,  pay- 

«       ,  «,    ,        i^g  Sister  Gish  $1,000  annually  dur- 
Board  Took        .    ^   ,         ,.,      .  '      .  /         „ 

Charee  ^"^  life-time.     After  paying  off 

all  indebtedness,  and  disposing  of 
all  the  pfoperties,  the  amount  of  the  estate  netted 
the  General  Mission  Board  $56,334.12.  This  is  bear- 
ing six  per  cent  interest,  and,  after  the  annuity  is  de- 
ducted, the  balance  of  the  income  is  used, — one-fifth 
for  the  Ministerial  and  Missionary  Relief  Fund  and 
the  balance,  four-fifths,  for  the  Gish  Publishing  Fund. 

The  General  Mission  Board  at  once  adopted  regu- 
lations for  the  Gish  Publishing  Fund  as  follows: 

1.  Name. — The  name  of  this  fund  shall  be  the  Gish 
Publishing  Fund. 

2.  Fund. — This  fund  shall  consist  of  the  estate  of 
James  R.  and  Barbara  Gish,  estimated  at  $50,000,  with 
any  other  funds  that  may  hereafter  be  added  to  it. 

3.  Purpose. — The  purpose  of  this  fund  shall  be  to  sup- 
ply the  ministers  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  with  such 
books  and  other  printed  matter  as  may  be  helpful  to  them 
in  advancing  and  maintaining  the  Truth. 

4.  Supervision. — The  General  Mission  Board  shall  ap- 
point a  Committee  of  three,  so  arranged,  in  term  of  office, 
that  the  time  of  one  member  expires  each  year,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be 

(a)  To  examine  and  pass  upon'  publications  issued  and 
distributed  by  this  fund. 

(b)  To  arrange  with  the  Publication  Department  for 
publication   and   distribution   of  publications   selected. 

5.  Surplus. — Any  surplus  on  hand  at  the  end  of  the 
fiscal  year  of  the  General  Mission  Board  shall,  after  prop- 
er allowance  has  been  made  for  selected  books  not  yet 
published,  be  turned  over  to  the  fund  for  superannuated 
and  disabled  ministers  and  missionaries;  but  should  it  not 

231 


Missions  in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

be  needed  in  said  fund,  then  it  shall  be  given  to  the  World- 
Wide  Mission  Fund. 

6.  Terms. — The  publications  shall  be  distributed  free  or 
at  greatly  reduced  rates,  at  no  time  the  price  asked  being 
more  than  the  cost  of  publication,  including  the  expense 
for  delivery, 

7.  Report. — The  General  Mission  Board  shall  cause  to 
be  published  an  annual  report  of  the  fund,  including  the 
list  of  books  published  and  the  number  of  copies  dis- 
tributed each  year. 

It  is  interesting  to.  note  what  a  large  amount  of 

good  has  been  done  by  the  fund  in 

Much   Good  1     rr.  •     ^u     r  1 

only  fifteen  years,  as  seen  in  the  fol- 
lowing receipts  and  expenditures  and 

number  of  copies  of  each  book  sent  out: 

Receipts  Expenditures 

1899,    $1,403.67  $   401.11 

1900,    1,043.21  1,923.44 

1901,    3,123.49  4,032.39 

1902,    3,887.20  2,167.06 

1903 4,174.75  4,160.27 

1904,    2,808.01  2,582.27 

1905,    1,593.28  1,758.05 

1906 2,516.36  1,745.03 

1907,    1,930.51  2,689.95 

1908,    1,951.92  3,459.75 

1909,    1,962.20  829.79 

1910,    2,514.91  2,497.84 

1911,    1,954.78  3,052.83 

1912 2,316.02  2,231.61 

1913 2,219.97  1,261.30 

Balance 607.59 

$35,400.28  $35,400.28 

Number  of  volumes  distributed  under  this  fund: 

Annual  Meeting  Minutes,  937 

Alone  w^ith  God,   1,973 

Bible   Dictionary 1,856 

Bible  Manners  and  Customs,   1,886 

Bible  Readings  and   Studies, 1,036 

232 


One  Organization 

Bible  Atlas, 1,232 

Blaikie's  Bible  History,   491 

Book  of  Books,  2,211 

Bound  Tracts,   2,499 

Character  of  Jesus,   250 

Doctrine  of  the  Brethren  Defended,    1,325 

Bulwarks  of  the  Faith 703 

Divinity  of  Christ,    3,000 

Cruden's  Concordance,   1,726 

How  to  Master  the  English  Bible,  1,380 

History  of  the  Brethren, 1,192 

History  of  Preaching,  Vol.  I, 250 

Eternal  Verities,   2,513 

Life  of  John  Kline,  1,145 

Edersheini's  Life  of  Christ,  2  Vol.,  1,504 

Lord's  Supper,   3,213 

Modern    Secret    Societies,    2,367 

Problems  of  Pulpit  and  Platform,   1,256 

Resurrection   of   Christ 1,000 

Seven  Churches  of  Asia 1,164 

Sick,  Dying  and  Dead 1,584 

Square  Talk  About  Inspiration  of  the  Bible,    2,485 

Sunday  School  Commentary,   8,937 

Schaff's  Hist.  Christian  Church,  Vol.  1 877 

Schaffs  Hist.  Christian  Church,  Vol.  II,   700 

Schaff's   Hist.   Christian   Church,  Vol.  VI,    452 

Teacher  Training  with  Master  Teacher 1,320 

The    Twelve    Apostles,    1,668 

Nave's   Topical    Bible,    688 

Topical  Text  Book,   1,768 

Trine    Immersion,    2,504 

Universalism 1,274 

War  vs.  Peace,   490 

Young  Preacher,  1,692 

64,648 

For  term  of  service  for  each  meinber  of  the  Gish 
Pubhshing  Committee  see  Appendix  F. 

Switzerland  and  France 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Mission  Board,  on 
January  12,  1899,  "  G.  J.  Fercken  was  advised  to 

233 


/ 

/ 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

investigate  Switzerland,  and  if  a  suitable  opening  was 
found,  to  begin  a  mission."  No  doubt,  in  this  de- 
,,jr,  cision,  the   Board  was  led  somewhat 

Switzerland        ^^  ^^^  ^^"^  °^  Brother  Fercken's  own 
mind,  rather  than  by  a  call  from  such 
a  republic  as  Switzerland, 

On  May  15  following,  after  hearing  Brother 
Fercken's  report,  the  Board  decided  that  he  should 
Place  of  move.    He  located  in  a  village  called 

Worship  Lancy,  near  Geneva,  and  began  work. 

Needed  Soon  a  place  of  worship  was  needed, 

and  in  February,  1900,  D.  L.  Miller 
was  directed  to  make  an  appeal  through  the  col- 
umns of  the  Gospel  Messenger  for  the  needed  funds. 
In  this  article  (see  Gospel  Messenger,  March  10, 
1900)  this  statement  was  made: 

It  was  riot  until  June,  1899,  that  the  first  meeting  was 
held  and  the  first  Sunday-school  opened  in  Lancy;  but  be- 
fore the  year  closed,  two  churches  had  been  organized, 
with  a  membership  of  about  thirty.  The  prospect  for  a 
good  work  is  very  promising  indeed,  and  those  who  have 
been  received  into  church  fellowship  rejoice  that  they 
have  found  a  church  holding  fast  to  all  commandments  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Board  had  a  number  of  items  for  this  new 

mission  at  its  meeting  February  13,  1900.     Among 

others  it  was  decided  that  Brother 

Number  of  pgrcken  be  authorized  to  translate 
Items  ,       .  ,  -  1        ^ 

and  prmt  a  number  of  tracts;  that  L. 

Tavel,  at  Oyonnax,  be  allowed  400  francs  per  year, 
and  that  money  be  appropriated  to  furnish  a  suit- 
able meeting-place  in  the  last-named  town.  At 
the  next  meeting,  in  May,  Brother  Fercken's  sup- 

234 


One  Organization 

port  was  increased  to  $950  per  year,  but  the  col- 
porter  whom  he  desired  to  employ,  was  not  al- 
lowed. 

The  call  for  funds  for  the  church  building  said 
that  "  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  dollars  would 

buy  the  ground  and  build  a  meeting- 
,      „  .  house,"   but  at   the  meeting  of  the 

Board,  October  23,  1900,  there  was 
$1,500  appropriated  to  cover  the  debt  made  on  the 
house,  for  it  cost,  lot  and  all,  $2,650.  It  was  unus- 
ual thus  to  have  a  debt  brought  upon  the  Board 
without  its  consent,  and  a  letter  was  so  addressed 
to  Brother  Fercken.  He  was  instructed  to  have  the 
property  deeded  to  the  General  Mission  Board,  if 
the  laws  of  the  land  permitted.  Later  it  was  discov- 
ered that  a  resident  of  Switzerland,  only,  could  hold 
the  title,  and  so  it  was  left  in  Brother  Fercken's 
name.  Brother  Fercken  did  not  exercise  good  judg- 
ment in  locating  this  meetinghouse,  as  any  one 
knows  who  has  visited  the  location.  It  was  far  to 
one  side  of  the  town,  and  had  few  advantages.  It 
was  not  strange,  then,  that,  seeing  the  people  would 
not  come  to  worship,  the  mission  was  moved  over 
into  the  city  of  Geneva,  into  a  rented  hall,  while 
the  Board,  at  its  meeting  on  October  8, 1891,  ordered 
the  church  property  sold.  At  this  same  meeting 
Adele  Siebeck,  at  Brother  Fercken's  suggestion,  was 

employed,  at  1,000  francs  per  year 
Growth  (3-    franc    is    about    20c).      Brother 

Fercken  desired  to  start  a  paper  in 
the  interests  of  the  church,  but  this  was  denied  at 
this  time.     On  the  other  hand,  he  was  invited  to 

235 


Missions  in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

America,  to  spend  the  winter  and  to  remain  until 
after  the  following  Annual  Meeting,  Concerning 
the  work,  thus  far,  Brother  Fercken,  writing  from 
Geneva,  made  this  report  in  part :  "  As  I  compare 
the  report  with  the  one  made  one  year  ago,  I  notice 
progress.  For  Geneva  you  reported  eighteen 
members;  this  year  there  are  twenty-two.  For 
France  fourteen  were  reported ;  now  there  are  nine- 
teen. The  increase,  therefore,  in  both  fields  has 
been  nine.  ...  I  do  not  think  our  mission  here  will 
assume  the  anticipated  proportions  we  hoped  for. 
The  Genevese  is  too  aristocratic,  conservative  and 
distrustful  to  detach  himself  from  old  Calvinistic 
traditions,  and  embraee  principles  which  he  views 
as  an  '  American  importation  '  and  *  antagonistic  to 
the  progress  of  the  age.'  ...  In  France  the  work 
could  be  pushed  still  further,  could  I  move  and  set- 
tle there  permanently,  or  were  we  able  to  place 
some  young,  active  and  thoroughly  educated  man. 
But  the  right  kind  of  a  man  is  hard  to  find." 

In  February,  1902,  Claude  Bernard,  of  Montreal, 

was  allowed  60  francs  per  month  to  conduct  the 

work  at  this  out-station.    Soon  after. 

_      ,       ,  Brother  Fercken  opened  the  mission 

Employed  ,      ^  ,  ,         ,  ^ 

m  Lancy,    he    employed    a    Brother 

Eikenberger  at  1,000  francs  per  year.  The  man 
proved  unfaithful,  in  some  manner,  and  at  the  Board 
meeting  his  support,  upon  recommendation  of  Broth- 
er Fercken,  was  transferred  to  Adrian  Pellet,  a  man 
of  Swiss  lineage,  who  had  married  an  English  nurse. 
Both  had  been  with  the  Salvation  Army  for  some 
time,  and  came  to  Brother  Fercken  "  following  bet- 

236 


One  Organization 

ter  light."  Because  of  Brother  Fercken's  absence  in 
the  homeland,  on  March  13,  1903,  Brother  Pellet's 
support  was  increased  to  2,000  francs,  and  inasmuch 
as  the  title  to  the  church  property  in  Lancy  was  in 
Birother  Fercken's  name,  he  was  instructed  to  give 
Adele  Siebeck  a  power  of  attorney,  to  make  a 
transfer,  in  case  the  property  were  sold  before  he 
returned  to  Geneva  again.  Upon  his  return  after 
Conference  of  1913,  where  he  served  as  a  member  of 
Standing  Committee,  Brother  Fercken  moved  to  Mon- 
treal, France,  about  sixty  miles  from  Geneva.  In  this 
typical  French  village  there  was  an  organized  body  of 
members.  Here  he  had  established  an  Orphanage,  in 
which  were  eleven  girls  and  one  boy,  the  support 
for  the  first  year  being  met  by  Sister  Geiger,  of 
Philadelphia.  Brother  and  Sister  Pellet  had  charge 
of  the  work  at  Geneva. 

During  the  next  year  the  ingatherings  were  a 
great  encouragement.  In  addition  to  Oyonnax, 
Montreal  and  Martignat,  a  new  sta- 
Ncw  Station  tion  at  Nantua  was  begun.  During 
the  year  fourteen  had  been  received 
into  membership.  Adele  Siebeck  continued  in 
charge  of  the  Orphanage  in  a  most  commendabk 
manner.  Brother  and  Sister  Pellet  met  good  suc- 
cess in  Geneva,  where  nine  had  been  baptized.  Their 
Sunday-school  reached  thirty-two. 

Already,  in  1905,  there  was  a  feeling  that  so  im- 
portant a  mission  as  the  two,  in  Switzerland  and 
France,  should  not  be  left  wholly  to  the  care  of  per- 
sons not  more  fully  grounded  in  the  faith  of  the 
church  than  was  either  Brother  Fercken  or  Brother 

237 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Pellet.    Brother  Fercken  had  been  among  the  Breth- 
ren   in   America    comparatively   but   little.     Brother 

Pellet  never  mingled  with  them,  save 
Disloyalty         as    visitors    came    to    their    stations. 

The  Board  was  searching  for  a  suit- 
able brother  and  his  wife  to  send  to  this  field.  But 
for  the  time  being,  they  were  not  found,  and  the 
work  continued.  Sad  to  relate,  too,  that  Brother 
Fercken,  as  developed  later,  was  not  true  to  the 
church  supporting  him.  Secretly  he  had  become  an 
ardent  follower  of  Swedenborg,  and  as  early  as  1903 
had  published  a  book,  setting  forth  his  doctrines. 
The  next  year  another  volume  came  from  his  pen ; 
and  the  next  year,  1906,  the  third.  At  this  time 
the  existence  of  his  publications  came  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Board.  At  once  each  member  ordered  a 
set.  Apparently  this  fact  was  at  once  communi- 
cated to  Brother  Fercken,  for  before  action  could 
be  taken,  on  the  part  of  the  Board,  Brother  Ferck- 
en left  the  mission  for  parts  unknown.  Soon  after. 
Sister  Siebeck  also  disappeared. 

At  the  December  meeting,  1906,  the  Board,  with 
heavy  hearts,  made  disposition  of  matters  as  best  it 

could.  Brother  Fercken's  member- 
Results  ship  was  referred  to  the  Committee 

which  was  to  visit  the  churches  in 
Europe  the  following  summer.  The  Orphanage  was 
discontinued,  and  the  orphans  given  homes  else- 
where. Pellet's  support  was  put  on  the  same  basis 
as  that  of  the  workers  in  India.  In  1907  Brother 
Bonsack  and  another  brother — the  committee  who 
visited  this  mission, — met  the  church  in  Montreal 

238 


One  Organization 

and  formally  withdrew  membership  from  Brother 
Fercken.  His  wife  and  children  had  come  to  Amer- 
ica, and  no  action  was  taken  in  their  cases.  There 
was  nothing  filed  against  them.  In  the  course  of 
time  it  was  learned  that  G.  J.  Fercken  had  located 
on  an  island  in  the  Indian  Ocean.  From  this  place 
he  made  proper  release,  thus  transferring  title  to 
the  church  property  at  Lancy  to  Adrian  Pellet,  who 
now  became  the  head  of  the  mission. 

The  Board  made  further  effort  to  find  an  Amer- 
ican missionary  for  the  field,  but  did  not  succeed. 
In  1909  a  number  of  charges,  in  writ- 
Other  Reverses  ing,  were  preferred  against  Brother 
Pellet  by  a  group  of  ex-members  at 
Oyonnax.  In  1910  the  Secretary  and  his  wife,  a 
committee  appointed  to  visit  the  churches  in  Eu- 
rope, met  at  Geneva  a  touring  party,  conducted  by 
W.  R.  Miller.  By  special  arrangement  on  the  part 
of  the  General  Mission  Board,  W.  R.  Miller,  A.  B. 
Barnhart  and  David  Hollinger  were  asked  to  assist 
in  hearing  the  charges  against  Adrian  Pellet  in  a 
meeting  at  Oyonnax.  Every  facility  for  a  fair  trial 
was  provided, — each  side  had  its  own  interpreter. 
After  spending  a  whole  day,  hearing  the  evidence, 
the  committee  decided  that  what  was  submitted 
did  not  sustain  the  charges. 

Brother  and  Sister  Pellet  continued  alone  in  the 
mission.     In  1911  Brother  Paul  Mohler  and  wife 
answered  the  call  of  the  Board  to  this 
The  Closing       field,    and   arrived   in   Oyonnax,    No- 
vember 29.    In  a  short  time  Brother 
Mohler  was  impressed  that  all  was  not  well  in  the 

239 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

mission, — that  Brother  Pellet's  life  was  not  what 
it  should  be.  A  closer  analysis  of  the  situation  con- 
firmed his  fears.  Reluctantly,  though  bravely,  as 
he  gathered  command  of  the  language,  did  he  go  to 
the  bottom  of  the  trouble,  and  finally  made  a  full  re- 
port to  the  General  Mission  Board.  After  a  careful 
survey  of  the  whole  situation,  it  seemed  wise  to  the 
Board  not  to  continue  the  work  either  in  France  or 
Switzerland.  The  move  of  the  Board  was  like  en- 
tering a  new  field.  France  was  needy  enough  from 
many  angles,  but  as  a  new  field  the  Board  did  not 
wish  to  enter  France.  It  was  decided,  finally,  on 
August  23,  1912,  to  withdraw  from  France  entirely, 
and  Brother  Mohler  was  invited  home,  and  to  be  free 
from  further  engagement  with  the  Board.  Accord- 
ing to  his  own  report,  none  of  those  whom  Brethren 
Fercken  and  Pellet  reported  as  members,  continued 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

It  is  a  story  of  failure,  the  reader  says.  Perhaps 
it  is  as  far  as  the  human  mind  understands.     But 

even  if  the  mission  was  closed,  even 
er  aps     o        though    the    trusted    leaders    proved 

false  to  their  trust,  may  it  not  be  pos- 
sible that  among  those  who  passed  away  and  were 
buried,  while  the  false  leaders  were  not  known, — 
there  were  sincere  persons  who  died  in  the  faith  ? 
May  it  not  be  possible  that  these  have  received  the 
crown  of  life  because  they  believed?  And  should 
eternity  reveal  one  such,  it  is  enough.  God  be 
praised  for  the  efifort  in  Asia  Minor,  Switzerland  and 
France ! 


240 


Plate    5 


Enoch  Eby 
James    Quinter 
G.    Riddlesberger 


S.   T.  Bosserman 
E.   S.   Younjr 
C.   P.   Rowland 


D.  E.  Brubaker 
D.    Vanlman 
Joseph   Leedy 


One  Organization 

On  June  12,  1899,  a  Hand  Book  was  ordered  pub- 
lished. This  contained  information  about  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Board,  qualifica- 
Hand  Book  tions  of  and  agreements  with  the  mis- 
sionaries on  the  field  and  such  other 
general  information  as  would  be  of  interest  to  one 
wishing  to  enter  the  service  of  the  Lord  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board. 

In  the  same  year  a  special  committee  made  report 
to  the  General  Mission  Board  on  the  management 

of  the  Missionary  Reading  Circle.  Be- 
Reading  Circle   fore  giving  this,  it  is  well  tO'  outline 

the  history  of  the  Circle.  With  the 
endeavors  of  W.  B.  Stover  to  quicken  interest  in 
missions  in  general,  and  India  in  particular,  he  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  starting  a  Reading  Circle  of  mis- 
sionary books.  The  books  were  to  be  furnished  at 
cost,  the  Helping  Hand,  a  small  periodical,  published 
by  James  M.  Neff,  at  Covington,  Ohio,  was  the  me- 
dium of  much  interchange  of  thought,  and  the  proj- 
ect was  received  with  much  enthusiasm  by  those 
interested  in  missions.  The  first  Secretary  was 
Edith  Newcomer,  of  WaynesborO',  Pennsylvania, 
while  W.  B.  Stover  was  President  through  all  its 
existence.  When  the  Helping  Hand  was  purchased, 
and  brought  to  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  the  interests  of 
the  Circle,  in  a  large  measure,  came  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  General  Mission  Board,  hence  the  re- 
port which  follows: 

That,  inasmuch  as  the  Publishing  Department,  four 
years  ago,  purchased  the  "Helping  Hand,"  the  official  or- 
gan of  the  Circle,  and  have  since  handled  its  publication, 

241 


Missions  in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

we  recommend  that  the  General  Mission'  Board  appoint 
and  cause  to  be  perpetuated  a  committee  of  three  whose 
duties  shall  be  as  follows: 

(a)  To  organize  themselves  so  as  to  make  the  officers 
of  said  Circle. 

(b)  To  plan  and  push  the  Circle  work  in  the  interests 
of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

(c)  To   revise   and   enlarge   the   work  as   thought   best. 

(d)  To  confer  with  and  report  to  the  General  Mission 
Board  at  least  once  each  year. 

The  Committee  elected  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  D, 
Rosenberger,  three  years  ;  Otho  Winger,  two  years ; 
John  R.  Snyder,  one  year. 

The  course  outlined  at  first  was  missionary  alone; 

later  it  was  made  two  years'  mission, — four  books 

^  per  year;   and   two   years  religious, 

Course 

Q    ..     ,  five  books  each  year.    The  medium  of 

thought  was  first  the  Pilot,  then  the 
Messenger  and  last  the  Missionary  Visitor.  The 
membership  fee  was  twenty  cents ;  the  books  were 
supplied  at  wholesale  rates  plus  postage.  On  the  com- 
pletion of  the  course  a  neat  little  diploma  was  given  to 
the  reader.  As  the  reading  of  good  books  always  does 

great  good,  so  this  course  was  a  great 
p        ,  blessing  to  upward  of  two  thousand  of 

its  members.  The  introduction  of  the 
Christian  Workers'  Movement  in  the  church  ab- 
sorbed the  energies  of  the  active  young  people  in 
the  church.  In  accordance  with  this  condition,  on 
January  1,  1906,  the  Reading  Circle  ceased,  the 
monthly  lessons  in  the  Missionary  Visitor  were  dis- 
continued, and  the  weekly  topics  of  the  Christian 
Workers    were    published    in    Our    Young    People, 

242 


One  Organization 

the  official  organ  for  that  movement  (See  Board's 
Minutes,  September  5,  1905,  page  70). 

As  early  as  1895  calls  came  before  the  Board,  ask- 
ing for  a  missionary  to  be  sent  into  certain  parts  of 

„.    .      .  Utah,  but  not  until  June  3,  1900,  did 

Mission  in  xi.     n       j  •  •         , 

Tj    .  the  Board  move  in  answering  them. 

At  this  time  David  S.  Filbrun,  of 
Ohio,  was  chosen  to  locate  in  Utah  and  start  a  mis- 
sion. Evidently  he  wished  to  know  something  on 
location  and  so  on,  for  at  the  following  meeting,  in 
October,  the  Board  instructed  him  to  push  the  work 
with  all  vigor,  that  he  would  be  supported  finan- 
cially, and  that  many  questions  that  would  arise 
must  be  left  to  his  judgment.  Brother  Filbrun  lo- 
cated north  of  Salt  Lake  City  and  began  work.  In 
the  course  of  a  little  over  a  year  or  so,  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  time  was  inopportune  for  other  than  a 
long,  protracted  effort  to  establish  a  successful  mis- 
sion, and  at  the  meeting  on  February  11,  1902,  the 
mission  was  discontinued. 

Through  the  aggressive  work  of  D.  L.  Miller  and 

S.  W.  Hoover,  endowment, — the  principal  securely 

invested  and  the  income  alone  used  by 

Endowment  *^^  Board,-was  begun.  By  1888, 
$30,000  had  been  secured  by  the  Gen- 
eral Mission  Board.  This  attracted  attention  and  some 
claimed  that  the  Board  had  no  right  to  solicit.  This 
was  settled  by  a  favorable  decision  by  the  Confer- 
ence of  1888,  suggesting  that  both  the  Mission  Board 
and  the  Tract  Work  should  continue  soliciting.  At 
the  same  time  authority  for  incorporating  was  also 
granted  to  the  General  Mission  Board.     The  plan 

243 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

of  endowment  appealed  to  many  brethren  and  sis- 
ters, and  by  1900  the  endowment  fund  had  grown  to 
$472,057.32  for  all  properties, — pledges  and  paid  in 
endowments.  At  the  Conference  of  1900  three  que- 
ries came  before  the  assembly,  bear- 
Opposed  ing  on  this  endowment.  Two  of 
them  asked  that  the  endowment  be 
not  loaned  on  first  mortgages  on  farm  lands,  as  had 
been  the  policy  of  the  Board  thus  far.  The  third 
asked  that  the  matter  of  soliciting  endowment  be 
discontinued.  The  whole  subject  was  referred  to 
the  following  Committee:  W.  R.  Deeter,  of  Indi- 
ana; D.  L.  Miller,  of  Illinois;  G.  W.  Lentz,  of  Mis- 
souri; J.  H.  Longenecker  and  James  A.  Sell,  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  Committee's  report,  of  more 
than  usual  interest,  was  as  follows: 

Your  committee  had  a  meeting  in  Elgin,  Illinois,  where 
every  opportunity  was  afforded  to  make  a  careful  and 
thorough  examination  of  the  present  plan  of  investing  and 
caring  for  the  funds  of  the  church.  It  was  found  that 
the  very  best  that  can  be  done  was  being  done  by  the 
General  Mission  Board  with  the  funds  entrusted  to  its 
care.  However,  we  recommend  that  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board  be  authorized  to  investigate  the  advantages  of 
purchasing  farms  as  an  investment,  and  if  they  find  it 
practicable,  to  so  invest  such  sums  as  may  seem  advisable 
to  them.  Many  of  our  brethren  looking  for  money  to  in- 
vest very  much  prefer  to  pay  interest  to  the  church.  It  is 
found  that  the  endowment  fund  can  not  be  diverted  from 
the  purpose  for  which  it  was  given  by  the  donors.  It  was 
found  that  every  possible  care  is  used  in  investing  the 
funds.  The  Secretary-treasurer  is  under  adequate  bonds, 
and  vouchers  are  kept  to  show  where  the  money  goes. 
Every  penny  donated  is  expended  in  the  most  careful 
manner.    The  General  Mission  Board  give  their  time  free. 

244 


One  Organization 

Your  committee  feel  that  it  is  due  to  say  that  the  course 
pursued  in  the  care  of  the  funds  in  their  charge  is  worthy 
of  high  commendation.  It  is  the  opinion  of  your  com- 
mittee that  no  funds  are  more  carefully  guarded  and  more 
sacredly  held  than  are  the  funds  of  the  church,  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  General  Mission  Board. 

We  recommend  that  no  hindrance  be  thrown  in  the 
way  of  securing  funds  for  the  mission  work  of  the  church 
and  that  our  members  be  encouraged  to  give  as  the  Lord 
has  prospered  them.  In  presenting  the  duty  of  giving  to 
the  members  of  the  church,  solicitors  should  always  give 
each  one  the  right  to  choose  his  method,  and  in  making 
endowments,  as  much  as  possible,  the  right  of  the  General 
Conference  to  use  the  fund  where  thought  best  to  do  so, 
be  reserved. 

The  General  Mission  Board  thought  to  try  the  in- 
vestment of  some  of  its  endowments  in  lands.     It 
was  found  that  there  were  too  many 

„  °.  ,    ^  difficulties.     First,  it  erave  the  Board 

Satisfactory  ,  ,  ,     , 

much  more  care  and  expense  to  look 

after  the  investment  in  land.     It  put  the  endowment, 

which  is  to  be  fixed,  on  a  speculative  basis, — afifect- 

ed  by  the  fluctuations  of  values.    Hence  the  Board 

returned    to    first   mortgages    on    farmlands,    having 

such  margins  of  security  that  the  force  of  law  is  not 

needed  to  make  collections.     At  the  close  of  the 

fiscal  year,  1913,  the  paid  in  endow- 

1,°^^  ^        ment  reached  $722,023.29,  while  the 

Endowment  ,  r    ,      t-.        , 

total  assets  of  the  Board  were  $819,- 

220.59.    This  does  not  include  pledged  endowment, 

which  is  to  be  paid  in  the  future.     The  Board  has 

not  one  dollar  of  indebtedness. 

Since  in  1901  A.  W.  Vaniman  and  wife  were  sent 

to  Scandinavia,  the  history  of  endeavor  in  that  field 

should  be  given  at  this  point. 

245 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Denmark  and  Sweden 

Perhaps  nothing  has  helped  so  much  to  strength- 
en and  encourage  the  weak  congregations  in  Den- 
mark and  Sweden  as  the  frequent 
Strengthened  visit  of  members  from  America.  Es- 
pecially was  this  so  when  such  a  par- 
ity as  D.  L.  Miller  and  wife,  H.  B.  Brumbaugh,  T. 
T.  Myers  and  W.  L.  Bingaman,  in  1895,  visited 
them.  While  they  could  communicate  only  through 
an  interpreter,  their  presence  enthused  the  faithful, 
and  attracted  the  attention  of  the  adherents.  They 
assisted  the  churches  in  their  labors,  and  left  them 
all  in  good  working  order.  There  was  no  foreign 
leader  among  them,  so  that  these  visits  were  all 
the  more  precious. 

In  1898  D.  L.  Miller  and  wife,  accompanied  this 

time  by  Brother   Hope,  visited  the   congregations 

again.    The  latter  was  asked  to  remain 

Vammans  in      ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  months  and  continue  the 

good  offices  he  was  so  well  adapted 
to  render  them.  In  the  early  part  of  1899 
Brother  Hope  returned  to  his  family  in  Amer- 
ica. In  February,  1901,  A.  W.  Vaniman  and  wife 
were  selected  by  the  Board  of  that  year,  approved 
by  the  Conference,  and  they  at  once  entered  upon 
their  duties  in  their  new  field  of  labor.  In  October 
of  the  same  year,  Bro.  Vaniman  was  granted  per- 
mission to  start  a  little  church  paper.  The  first  issue 
of  the  Evangelii  Budbarare  was  published  the  fol- 
lowing January  and  continued  for  three  years.  It 
was  a  great  help  to  the  membership.  Brother  and 
Sister  Vaniman  visited  and  labored  among  the 
the  churches  in  Denmark  also. 

246 


One  Organization 


247 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

In  the  fall  of  1902  E.  M.  Cobb,  D.  C.  Campbell 
and  A,  C.  Wieand  traveled  among  the  churches,  and 
Brother  Vaniman  reported,  "Such 
Many  Visitors  visits  of  brethren  are  of  great  bene- 
fit to  the  members  here."  In  1904 
D.  L.  Miller  and  wife,  I.  Bennett  Trout,  W.  R.  Mil- 
ler, M.  R.  Murray,  and  S.  P.  Berkebile  and  wife, — 
the  last  named  couple  on  their  way  to  India  as  mis- 
sionaries,— paid  a  visit  to  the  members.  Brother 
Miller  and  wife,  and  Brother  Trout  attended  a  Dis- 
trict Meeting  and  assisted  there.  The  church  was 
much  built  up  and  Brother  and  Sister  Vaniman 
greatly  encouraged.  They  felt  there  were  some  very 
discouraging  features  in  their  field  and  so  reported 
in  the  next  Annual  Report. 

The  climatic  conditions  were  such  as  to  have  an 
ill  effect  on  a  disease  that  Brother  Vaniman  inher- 
ited from  his  mother,  and  in  the  fall 
Failing  Health  of  1905  they  returned  to  the  home- 
land, and  Sweden  and  Denmark  were 
again  without  a  foreign  leader.  In  1907  Chas.  D. 
Bonsack  and  another  brother  made  a  hasty  tour 
among  the  churches,  including  a  visit  to  France, — 
in  all  not  over  ten  weeks.  In  1910  the  Secretary 
and  his  wife  spent  nearly  three  months  among  the 
Scandinavian  members. 

At  the  Conference  of  1911  J.  F.  Graybill  and  wife 
were  approved  for  Sweden  and  that  summer  arrived 
in  Malmo.    They  have  been  laboring 
New  Workers    faithfully.     They  now  have  the  lan- 
guage, and  are  leading  the  work  in 
preaching,  teaching  Bible  classes  and  prayer  meet- 

248 


One  Organization 


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Scale  of  Miles 
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100 


249 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ing,  also  being  able  to  entertain  and  direct  in  pri- 
vate, social  intercourse.  At  the  Conference  of  1913 
Ida  Buckingham  was  approved  for  Sweden,  and 
goes  to  assist  in  the  work.  At  this  same  Annual 
Conference  A.  F.  Wine  and  wife  were  approved  for 
the  Danish  field,  to  which  they  feel  the  Lord  has 
called  them.  They,  with  their  children,  save  the 
oldest  son  who  remained  with  his  grandfather  in  Vir- 
ginia, sailed  for  Denmark  on  June  14,  1913.  This 
field  has  long  been  neglected,  as  far  as  having  an 
American  leader  among  them  is  concerned.  The 
leaders  living  there  have  been  faithful,  but  have 
grown  old  in  the  service. 

Both  fields  are  of  such  a  character  that  visible 
progress  may  appear  slow  for  a  while,  but  the  Lord 
has  many  people  to  be  gathered  into 
Great  Reasons  the  fold  of  consecrated  service.  The 
State  Church,  so  nominal  in  its 
church  activities,  is  a  hindrance,  but  its  very  lack  of 
life  is  one  of  the  great  reasons  for  pressing  forward 
in  the  mission, 

"For  years,  even  ever  since  his  youth,  D.  L.  Miller 
had  been  collecting  books  of  travel,  literature,  his- 
tory,   religion,    besides    well-selected 

1  rary  commentaries  and  books  of  reference, 

Presented 

until  he  had,  perhaps,  the  largest  pri- 
vate library  in  the  Brotherhood.  In  May,  1894,  be- 
fore sailing  on  his  two  years'  trip  abroad,  he  pre- 
sented the  entire  library  to  the  General  Mission 
Board  on  the  following  conditions : 

1.  If  we  succeed  in   selling  out  home  at  Mt.   Morris, 
now  offered  for  sale,  we  will  at  once  ship  the  library  to 

250 


One  Organization 

Elgin,  where  it  can  be, stored  until  the  new  building  is 
completed,  and  a  room  prepared  for  the  books.  If  the 
house  is  not  sold,  it  will  remain  where  it  is  until  some  fu- 
ture time.  In  the  event  of  the  death  of  myself  and  wife, 
on  our  contemplated  tour  of  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa, 
the  library  will  at  once  be  turned  over  to  the  Board. 

2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  to  prepare  a  suita- 
ble room  for  the  library,  making  it  as  safe  as  possible 
from  fire. 

3.  No  book  shall  be  removed  from  the  library  except 
by  editors  or  their  assistants,  and  these  only  to  the  edi- 
torial rooms,  to  be  returned  again  to  the  library,  as  soon 
as  the  purpose  for  removing  them  has  been  subserved. 

4.  All  books  received  for  literary  notices,  or  that  may 
have  been  received,  or  that  now  belong  to  the  Brethren 
Publishing  House,  shall  be  placed  in  the  library,  as  far 
as  it  may  adopt,  for  the  regulation  of  the  library. 

5.  The  Board  shall  see  that  the  library  is  properly  cared 
for  and  may  make  such  efforts  as  it  deems  expedient,  from 
time  to  time,  to  add  books  to  it  either  by  donations  or 
by  purchase. 

The  General  Mission  Board  readily  accepted  the 
unusual  and  generous  gift  with  many  thanks,  and 

directed  that  H.  C.  Early  should  write 
Library  Vault     up   the   extent   of   the  library   in   the 

Gospel  Messenger.  In  1906,  when 
the  north  half  of  the  present  Publishing  House  was 
erected,  a  library  vault, — heavy  brick  walls  and  rein- 
forced concrete  ceiling, — twenty-six  by  thirty-eight 
feet, — was  built  for  this  purpose,  as  well  as  to  con- 
tain other  valuable  things  and  records  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  church.  Here  may  be  found  almost  com- 
plete files  of  all  the  church  periodicals  from  the  be- 
ginning, known  as  the  Allen  Boyer  donation. 
Soon  after  this  gift  was  made  to  the  Brotherhood, 

251 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

D.  L.  Miller  and  his  wife,  and  I.  Bennett  Trout  vis- 
ited the  churches  in  Denmark  and 
Appreciation  Sweden.  On  August  6,  the  other  four 
members  of  the  General  Mission 
Board, — namely:  A.  B.  Barnhart,  John  Zuck,  H.  C. 
Early  and  S.  F.  Sanger, — drew  up  the  following  res- 
olutions, regarding  their  colaborer,  D.  L.  Miller,  and 
had  them  spread  on  the  Minutes : 

Whereas,  our  dear  brother,  D,  L,  Miller  and  wife,  ex- 
pect to  sail  September  1  for  a  sojourn  of  two  years  in 
the  Orient,  we,  his  associate  members  of  the  General 
Mission  Board,  desire  to  express  our  appreciation  of 

1.  His  services  of  twenty-one  years  as  a  member  of  this 
Board,  and  his  faithful  performance  of  his  duties  as  its 
chairman. 

2.  His  Christian  character  and  his  faithfulness  to  the 
church  and  her  interests. 

3.  His  spirit  of  fairness  and  kindness  to  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Board,  as  well  as  towards  others  in  general. 

4.  We  also  express  our  interest  in  his  intended  jour- 
ney, and  pray  that  our  kind  Heavenly  Father  may  bless 
him,  and  also  his  wife,  who  has  been  the  joy  and  inspira- 
tion of  his  life,  and  that  they  both  may  have  a  pleasant 
and  profitable  journey,  and  return  to  us  in  good  health 
for  years  of  service,  dear  to  their  hearts,  as  well  as  ours. 

For  a  number  of  years  previous.  Committees  from 
Conference  to  settle  troubles  in  congregations. 
Mission  were   ordered   paid   by   the    General 

Money  for  Mission  Board.     This  produced  dis- 

Missions  Only  satisfaction  on  the  part  of  some,  and 
several  queries  came  to  Conference  of  1904,  asking 
that  "  all  mission  money  be  used  exclusively  for 
mission  purposes."  The  request  was  granted.  At 
the  same  meeting,  because  "of  the  peculiar  relation 
which  the   General  Mission  Board  sustain  to  the 

252 


One  Organization 

General  Brotherhood,"  its  members  were  exempted 

from  serving  on  any  committee  work  to  churches. 

Through   the    rapidly-growang    Brotherhood    by 

emigration  into  new  parts  of  the  country,  as  well 

as  settling  in  the  cities,  there  was  an 

ys  em  unusual    demand    for   help    to   build 

Approved  .      ,  -r-     i    ,        i- 

meetmghouses.    l^ach  locality,  on  its 

own  initiative,  started  out  to  secure  money.  Con- 
gregations, whose  fame  had  spread  as  liberal  givers, 
were  solicited  frequently,  while  other  parts  were 
neglected.  There  was  a  lack  of  system  and  with  it 
confusion  and  discouragement.  In  1906,  in  order 
to  avoid  all  this  and  bring  help  upon  a  systematic 
basis,  the  Conference  decided  that 

Whenever  help  is  desired  by  any  congregation  or  mis- 
sion point,  it  shall  first  solicit  its  own  congregation;  then, 
by  permission  of  the  District  Mission  Board,  solicit  the 
District  in  which  the  congregation  is  located.  Then,  if 
further  help  is  needed,  said  congregation  shall  petition 
the  General  Mission  Board,  the  petition  first  being  en- 
dorsed by  the  District  Mission  Board. 

It  was  at  the  Conference  of  1906,  also,  that  the 
first  missionaries  to  China  were  approved,  and  the 
following  is  a  history  of  the  growth  of  mission  work 
in  China. 

China 
While  agitation  for  a  mission  in  China  runs  back 
through  the  last  half  century,  not  until  1900  did 
any  real  interest  manifest  itself  for 

Chi^a*'°"  ^°''     ^^^^  ^^^'^-     ^^  ^^^  ''^^^^  °^  ^^^  ^^^'' 
John    R.    Snyder   wrote    on    "Why 

a  Mission  Should  Be  Opened  in  China,"  and  after 

showing  the  needs  of  the  field  in  a  brief  way,  he 

stated  that  as  soon  as  there  was  sentiment  enough 

253 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

in  favor  of  the  mission  in  the  Brotherhood,  the  Gen- 
eral Mission  Board  would  be  ready  to  begin.  Fol- 
lowing this  was  a  series  of  well-prepared  articles  by 
J.  S.  Andes,  during  1901,  in  which  he  sought  to  raise 
funds  and  thus  provide  the  way.  The  General  Mis- 
sion Board  authorized  the  getting  out  of  needed  sta- 
tionery to  conduct  his  campaign.  This  agitation 
showed  itself  in  gifts  for  a  China  mission  as  follows: 

Total  amount  donated  till  March  31,  1901,  $227.15. 
Total  amount  donated  till  March  31,  1902,  $435.50. 
Total  amount  donated  till  March  31,  1906,  $1,125.32. 
Total  amount  donated  till  March  31,  1908,  $1,651.08. 

The  above  years  are  selected  because  1902  in- 
cludes   all  funds     donated     through     the     interest 

worked  up  by  Brother  Andes'  arti- 
No  Great  ^j^^     ^g^^  shows  the  amount  accumu- 

Interest  ,        ,       ,  ,       n     .       ■     •         ■       ^ 

lated  when  the  first  missionaries  to 

China  were  set  apart;  and  1908  shows  how  much 

was  on  hand  when  the  missionaries  sailed  for  China. 

The  sentiment  developed  for  a  China  Mission  was 

not  very  great. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Mission  Board  on 

May  26,  1906,  it  was  decided  to  open  a  mission  in 

China,  and  a  committee  was  appoint- 
First  Workers  ^^   ^^   j^^^   ^p   pj^^g   ^Q   ^ggj^   ^j^g 

oelected  ,        a      c  j    • 

work.  As  far  as  a  record  is  con- 
cerned, that  committee  never  made  a  report.  But 
at  the  Springfield  Conference,  of  1906,  F.  H.  Crum- 
packer  and  wife,  and  Em-ma  Horning  were  approved 
as  missionaries  for  China.  They  did  not  sail  that 
fall,  for  it  was  thought  best  to  spend  some  time  on 
the  home  base,  developing  a  stronger  interest  in 

254 


One  Organization 


In  Northern  part.   Ping  Ting   Chou   and   Liao   Chou,   the   two 
stations  of  Church  of  Brethren  Missions  in  China. 


255 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Chir.a.  To  this  end  Brother  Crumpacker  spent  his 
energies  in  working  among  the  churches  and  doing 
all  he  could  for  the  new  field.  At  the  meeting  of 
July  24,  1907,  the  Board  did  not  think  it  prudent  to 
send  the  three  approved,  alone  to  that  far-away- 
field,  and  asked  the  party  to  remain  in  the  homeland 
for  another  year,  with  the  hope  that  others  would 
join  the  party  in  another  year. 

This  came  to  pass,  for  at  the  Conference  of  1908 

Geo,  W.  Hilton  and  wife  were  approved.    The  party 

of  five   began   preparations   at   once, 

Sailing  to  ^^^  ^^jj^^  ^^^^  Seattle,  Washington, 

in  the  latter  part  of  August  on  the 
steamship  Minnesota,  and  arrived  in  Shanghai, 
China,  on  September  25,  after  a  most  pleasant  voy- 
age, and  made  their  home  for  a  short  time  with  Mr. 
Evans.  They  then  proceeded  to  Hankau  by  river 
boat,  where  they  were  hospitably  entertained  by  the 
China  Inland  Mission.  Then,  by  freight  car,  they 
proceeded  to  Tai  Yuen  Fu,  in  the  Shansi  Province, 
where,  through  the  kindness  of  missionaries  of  an- 
other Board,  a  good  home  had  been  provided  for 
them.  A  cordial  greeting  awaited  them,  which  did 
much  to  make  them  happy  in  the  beginning  of  their 
locating  in  China. 

The  following  March  (1909)  Brethren  Crumpack- 
er and  Hilton  made  a  tour  of  the  territory  where 

they  would  likely  take  a  station,  sell- 
Prospecting         ing  Bibles  and  prospecting  the   field. 

Favorable  impressions  were  gathered, 
and  shortly  after,  in  the  spring  of  1909,  the  mission 
party  located  at  Ping  Ting  Chou.  Language  study  was 

256 


Plate    6 


Opposite    256 


Chas.   H.   Hawbaker 
Jacob    Hepner 
S.    R.    Zug 


L.  A.  Plate 
S.  F.  Sanger 
S.    W.    Hoover 


J.    L,.    Miller 
C.  W.  Lahman 
Isaac  Frantz 


One  Organization 

the  first  thing,  all  the  time,  but  during-  recreation 
time  all  was-  done  for  the  Chinese  that  was  within 
reach. 

During  the   latter  part  of  1909   Brother  Hilton 
took  sick,  and  in  the  spring  of  1910  it  was  thought 
best  for  him  to  return  to  the  home- 
Sickness  and      j^^^   ^^^  ^^   operation   on   his  knee, 
Return  ,  ,.,,,.  ^,  . 

and  to  rebuild  his  constitution.     Ihis 

left  Brother  Crumpacker  and  wife  and  Sister  Horn- 
ing alone  on  the  field.  April  3,  1910,  two  young  men 
were  baptized, — the  first  converts  in  China.  Stead- 
ily the  work  was  pushed,  and  the  band  was  still 
further  encouraged  by  the  arrival  of  Minerva  Metz- 
ger,  who  had  been  approved  by  the  Conference  of 
1910,  and  had  proceeded  to  the  field  alone,  arriving 
October  15.  During  the  year  an  opium  refuge  mis- 
sion had  been  established.  Through  having  fairly 
good  command  of  the  language,  house-to-house 
work,  and  missions  in  general,  were  begun. 

The  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  Conference  of  1911  will 

always  be  precious  in  the  memory  of  many,  because 

_  ,  that  year  such  a  large  number  of  Chi- 

Throes  of  ,  j  r      ^u 

J,  ,   ...  nese  workers  were  approved  for  the 

field.  There  were  B.  F.  Heckman, 
wife,  and  two  little  children,  Homer  Bright,  wife 
and  two  children,  Anna  Hutchison  and  Winnie 
Cripe;  and  then  Geo.  Hilton,  wife  and  son,  return- 
ing. It  was  a  goodly  party  that  sailed  for  China 
that  fall.  Arriving  in  Tien  Tsin,  they  found  their 
future  home  in  the  throes  of  rebellion.  The  party 
remained  at  Tien  Tsin.  The  missionaries  from  the 
interior  were  ordered  to  the  coast.     The  winter  of 

257 


Missions  in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

1911  and  '13  was  one  of  some  anxiety,  close  study 
and  great  dependence  upon  God. 

In  the  spring  the  war  cloud  passed  away,  to  the 
extent  that  some  of  the  missionaries  went  inland. 
Shansi,  fortunately,  had  not  been  the 
Liao  Chou  scene  of  much  conflict.    In  the  fall  of 

1912,  the  mission  party  gathered  at 
Ping  Ting  Chou  for  a  ten  days'  fellowship,  and 
then  Geo.'  W.  Hilton  and  wife,  Homer  Bright 
and  wife,  and  Sisters  Hutchison  and  Gripe  started 
on  their  three  day's  journey  to  Liao  Chou,  the  new 
station.  Opium  Refuge  work  was  established,  a  dis- 
pensary was  started,  and  all  were  doing  well  at  both 
stations. 

During  the  holidays  smallpox  broke  out  in  the  home 
of  B.  F.  Heckman  at  Ping  Ting  Chou.  Little  Esther 
„.  ,  ,       came    down    first.      Dr.    Hemingway, 

jQg^^jj^  two  days  distant,  after  an  urgent  call, 

came  and  stayed  three  days,  resting 
her  parents  who  were  greatly  run  down  physically. 
Soon  after.  Brother  Heckman  took  the  disease  in  its 
most  virulent  form.  Dr.  Lewis,  of  Tai  Yuen  Fu,  also 
two  days  distant,  left  his  pressing  duties  to  make  one 
call.  Kind  hands  in  the  mission  did  all  they  could. 
Soon  Sister  Heckman  took  her  bed  in  the  same  room, 
with  the  same  disease.  On  January  12,  1913,  Broth- 
er Heckman  died  and  was  buried.  The  little  band 
was  in  great  sorrow,  and  when  the  cablegram  reached 
the  homeland,  the  heart  of  the  Brotherhood  ached 
and  was  sad. 

Right  after  the  war,  through  the  earnest  solicita- 
tions of  the  China  General  Relief  Committee,  Broth- 
er  Hilton   assisted  in   distributing  relief   in   famine- 

258 


One  Organization 

stricken  territory.  He  returned  later  with  sixteen 
orphan  children,  and  this  became  the  basis  of  a  China 

Orphanage.  The  sum  of  $5,000  was 
Orphanage  voted  to  erect  suitable  buildings,  which 

are  now  under  the  process  of  construc- 
tion. The  Orphanage  now  has  forty  boys  in  it.  Dur- 
ing the  year  seven  have  been  baptized. 

Brother  Heckman's  death,  sad  to  think  about,  was 

not  without  fruits.  Ever  since  the  opening  of  the 

mission,  the  Board  wanted  to  send  a 

_    .^  doctor.    The  workers  asked  that  one 

Fruits 

be  hired  and  sent  for  a  term  of 
years,  but  this  was  not  thought  prudent,  at  the  time. 
But  when  it  was  announced  that  Brother  Heckman 
had  died  without  proper  medical  attention,  and  a 
call  was  sent  forth  for  some  one  to  go  for  each  of 
the  two  stations,  then  it  was  that  Dr.  O.  G.  Bru- 
baker  and  wife  said,  "Here  am  I ;  send  me."  Dr.  Fred 
G.  Wampler  and  wife  were  just  completing  medical 
work,  and  planned  on  going.  This,  then,  made  a 
physician  for  each  station,  for  the  stations  are  about 
three  days'  journey  apart.  Dr.  Brubaker,  who  has 
a  good  practice  in  his  home  town,  has  had  many  ob- 
stacles to  overcome,  and  it  is  with  much  sacrifice 
that  he  is  planning  to  go.  In  addition  to  these  two 
doctors,  Ernest  Vaniman  and  wife,  and  Anna  V. 
Blough,  also  go  to  this  field.  Emma  Horning,  who 
was  compelled  to  come  home  on  account  of  sickness, 
in  the  spring  ol  1912,  will  return  to  the  field.  The 
party  plans  on  sailing  September  29,  1913,  from 
Seattle,  on  the  steamship  Minnesota. 

259 


Missions   in   Church  of  the   Brethren 

It  can  hardly  be  said  that  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren has  begun  missions  in  China,  when  one  looks  at 
the  almost  countless  millions  there, 
Hardly  Begun  waiting  for  the  Christ.  Yet,  what 
has  been  done  during  the  last  five 
years,  shows  every  indication  of  a  commendable 
zeal,  which  God  surely  will  bless. 

In  anticipation  of  the  Bicentennial  Commemora- 
tion, in  1908,  the  General  Mission  Board  issued  a 
call  for  $100,000,  as  special  missionary 
$100  000  offering  at  the  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  An- 

nual Conference.  The  congregations 
were  thoroughly  canvassed  and  the  subject  prom- 
inently brought  before  them,  but  the  offering  fell 
far  below  the  amount.  It  was,  however,  a  decided 
increase  over  former  years,  and  showed  a  commend- 
able interest  on  the  part  of  many  for  missions. 

A  number  of  members  had  located  on  the  Island  of 

Cuba,  and  at  the  December,  1907,  meeting  asked 

that    a   missionary   sister   be   sent   to 

_,  ,  assist  them  in  their  church  work.  The 

Cuba 

need  of  a  meetinghouse  brought  forth 

the  permission,  at  the  meeting  of  June  7,  1908,  to 
the  congregation  at  Omaja,  Cuba,  to  make  a  general 
solicitation  of  not  to  exceed  $500,  from  the  Brother- 
hood. Blanche  Lentz  was  approved  to  go,  but  after- 
wards, upon  solicitation,  she  continued  as  editor  of  the 
Inglenook;  there  was  no  other  sister  willing  to  go, 
though  the  subject  was  laid  on  the  hearts  of  several. 
They  did  not  feel  the  call  of  God  to  enter  that  field.  On 
May  30,  1909,  the  decision  was  changed  to  send  a 
brother  and   sister,  if  they  could  be  found.     The 

260 


One  Organization 

Board  held  this  need  before  the  Brotherhood,  but 

there  was  none  to  go.    Later  an  appeal  was  made 

.     .,    ,       .  ,     to  start   an  industrial    school   on   the 

An  Industrial     •  ,      ,       t  111 

School  island,     it  was   ruled  that,   since  the 

Board  did  not  have  funds  for 
such  purpose,  nothing  could  be  done  at  the  time. 
However,  Grant  Mahan,  who  was  before  the  Board 
at  that  time,  was  given  permission  and  authority  to 
secure  the  funds  to  begin  an  industrial  school.  In 
1911  data  were  gathered  as  to  the  feasibility  of  un- 
dertaking such  a  school,  the  result  of  which  was  a 
report  not  very  encouraging.  On  April  12,  1912, 
the  Board  renewed  its  determination  to  try  to  get  a 
minister  to  locate  in  Cuba,  and  do  regular  mission 
work  and  report  developments.  The  island  offers 
a  splendid  opportunity  for  evangelistic  labors,  but 
for  some  reason  the  field  does  not  appeal  to  those 
desiring  to  enter  mission  service  as  do  some  other 
fields. 

On  December  2,  1908,  S.  N.  McCann  was  appoint- 
ed Traveling  Secretary  for  the  Board  and  made  a 
splendid  canvass  of  the  churches.  They  responded 
liberally  to  the  endowment  through  his  efforts. 

To  some,  Jerusalem,  Syria,  has  always  appealed 
as  a  proper  place  to  have  a  mission.     Even  if  the 
field   were    not    so    promising,    the 
Jerusalem  Church   of  the  Brethren    should    be 

represented  in  that  historic  city,  made 
sacred,  long  ago,  by  the  presence  of  the  world's  Re- 
deemer. Prompted  by  such  sentiments,  in  part  at 
least,  Stephen  Johnson,  of  Lordsburg,  California, 
at  the  meeting  of  October  13,  1909,  offered  to  sup- 

261 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

port,  through  endowment,  a  missionary  and  his  wife 
in  the  city  of  Jerusalem.  The  offer  was  accepted 
with  greatest  appreciation.  The  Board  has  sought 
for  the  brother,  but  thus  far  none  has  been  found 
who  is  willing  to  go. 

There  appears  to  be  a  number  of  worthy  young 
people  who  would  be  glad  to  serve  the  church  in 
Help   to  ^^^  mission  field  but,  unfortunately, 

Prepare  they  do  not  have  the  means  to  pre- 

Workers  pare  themselves  to  go.     This  condi- 

tion has  confronted  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board  for  some  time,  and  the  Conference  in 
1910  provided  the  following  plan  which,  it  is  hoped, 
will  in  a  measure  help  to  prepare  workers  for  the 
field: 

That  the  General  Mission  Board  shall  pass  upon  all 
applicants  as  to  general  fitness  and  issue  a  certificate  of 
approval,  conditioned  on  final  acceptance,  when  ready  to 
enter   service. 

That  the  congregations,  tributary  to  the  seve'ral  schools 
and  colleges,  are  urged  to  contribute  funds  for  current 
needs  and  for  endowment,  for  the  purposes  herein  set 
forth,  and 

That  the  District  Meeting,  or  Meetings,  in  the  territory 
tributary  to  the  several  schools  and  colleges,  shall  pro- 
vide some  plan  to  aid  the  school  or  college  in  their  ter- 
ritory to  create  and  properly  care  for  such  fund,  and 

That  the  schools  and  colleges  are  hereby  authorized  to 
solicit  their  respective  territories  in  harmony  with  the 
plan  adopted  by  their  respective  District  Meetings,  and 
to  determine  on  what  conditions  and  to  what  extent  each 
approved  applicant  is  to  receive  aid. 

In  the  manner  of  conducting  the  meetings  of  the 
Board,  the  December  21,  1910,  meeting  had  a  de- 

262 


One  Organization 

parture,  which,  if  followed  up,  must  result  in  good. 
At  this  meeting,  the  President,  in  a  formal  paper,  not 

Formal  ^^^^  reviewed  the  work  of  the  Board, 

Suggestions  but  offered  suggestions  on  a  num- 
ber of  subjects  for  serious  consid- 
eration at  its  earliest  possible  convenience.  In  this 
there  is  opened  the  way  for  thought  and  leadership 
in  missionary  progress  that  should  be  productive 
of  much  good. 

In  1911  J.  S.  Albright,  who  planned  to  travel  con- 
siderably   in    South    America,    urged    the    Board, 

through  some  very  liberal  offers,  to 

South  ••     I,-       •  i^-  ..1 

.        .  jom  him  m  prospectmg,  with  a  view 

of  opening  a  mission  somewhere  in 
Argentina.  The  Board,  not  unmindful  of  the 
brother's  liberal  offer,  did  not  see  its  way  clear  to 
accept.  After  spending  considerable  time  on  the 
sister  continent,  he  was  before  the  Board  again,  at 
Winona  Lake,  Indiana,  in  June,  1913,  and  repeated 
his  offers  with  personal  emphasis.  He  believes  that 
South  America  has  a  great  future  and  is  willing  to 
prove  his  faith  in  a  very  practical  way.  The  sub- 
ject is  deferred  for  the  further  consideration  of  the 
Board. 

On  November  21,  1911,  J.  F.  Appleman  was  ap- 
pointed a  Traveling  Secretary  for  the  Board.     His 

labors  have  been  for  the  most  part  in 
Appleman  as      ^    ,.  ^,         ,  .  . 

Secretary  Indiana.     1  he  returns  are  increasing, 

the  amount  of  endowment  secured  has 
been  encouraging,  and  the  missionary  sentiment  he  is 
moulding  will  continue  to  bring  forth  fruit  for  Mis- 
sions. 

263 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

At  the  St.  Joseph  Conference,  in  1911,  two  impor- 
tant decisions  were  made.     First  that  laymen  may 
be  sent  to  the  field  as  missionaries.    It 
aym  n        y     ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^j^^  policy  to  send  ministers 

only.  But  the  workers  were  so  scarce 
that,  by  this  decision,  the  door  was  opened  to  send  any 
qualified  layman. 

The  other  action  is  of  a  missionary  educational 

nature.  It  is  for  the  churches  at 
Educational        home,  and  has  brought  good  results 

where  set  to  work.  The  plan,  pre- 
pared by  J.  J.  Yoder  and  Chas.  D.  Bonsack,  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

With  a  view  of  securing  unity,  cooperation,  and  the  full- 
est efficiency  of  each  congregation,  whereby  the  church 
shall  be  enabled  to  fulfill  its  mission  to  the  world,  the 
General  Mission  Board  submits  to  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence of  1911   the  following  plan   for  approval: 

I.  That  a  committee  of  three  or  more,  who  are  actively 
interested  in  missions,  preferably  representatives  of  the 
several  organizations  of  the  congregation,  be  appointed 
in  each  congregation  by  the  church  in  council,  whose  du- 
ties shall  be  to  cooperate  with  the  elder  or  pastor: 

1.  To  develop  the  home  and  foreign  missionary  inter- 
est, by  the  use  of  literature,  missionary  meetings,  mission 
study  or  otherwise. 

2.  To  have  some  system  of  giving  by  every  one,  along 
the  scriptural  lines  of  cheerful,  proportionate  and  weekly 
giving,  and  to  solicit  all  personally  to  this  end. 

3.  To  promote  personal  service  and  devotion  in  the  life 
of  the  individual. 

II.  That  the  District  Mission  Boards  appoint  a  Dis- 
trict Secretary,  to  be  approved  by  the  District  Meeting, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  assist  congregations  to  organ- 
ize, adopt,  and  make  operative  the  plan  herein  outlined. 

264 


One  Organization 

That  the  Secretary  report  annually  to  the  District  Meet- 
ing and  to  the   General   Mission   Board. 

III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  General  Mission  Board 
to  assist,  in  every  way,  in  making  effective  this  work, 
through  correspondence,  traveling  secretaries,  tracts  and 
otherwise. 

For  a  number  of  years  there  was  a  growing  feel- 
ing, especially  among  the  majority  of  the  members 
Closer  Union  of  the  District  Mission  Boards,  that 
Between  there  was   not   a   sufficient  bond   of 

Boards  union  between  their  work  and  that 

of  the  General  Mission  Board.  On  the  part  of  some 
of  the  Boards  indifference  was  manifested  in  their 
work,  and  there  seemed  to  be  no  remedy.  In  order 
that  there  should  be  closer  cooperation  and  helpful- 
ness, the  Conference  of  1913  changed  Section  4  of 
the  plan  of  1893  to  read  as  follows : 

The   General   Mission   Board   shall 

(a)  Cooperate  with  the  respective  District  Boards  in 
developing  interest  and  support  for  both  District  and  Gen- 
eral Missions: 

(h)  Collect  and  publish  an  annual  report  of  all  Dis- 
trict missionary  effort  and  other  information,  helpful  to 
the  Districts;  and 

(c)  When  needed,  carry  forward  District  mission  work, 
including  missions  among  foreigners  in  the  United  States. 

In  order  to  secure  assistance,  a  congregation  must  first, 
by  subscription  or  otherwise,  determine  what  amount  it 
can  raise;  then  petition  the  District  Board  for  needed  as- 
sistance. If  said  District  Board  is  unable  to  render  as- 
sistance, either  entire  or  in  part,  then  said  petition  shall, 
upon  recommendations  of  the  District  Board,  be  consid- 
ered by  the  General  Mission  Board,  and  proper  assistance 
rendered. 


265 


Missions  in  Church  of  the   Brethren 

Missions  by  District  Mission  Boards 

Up  to  the  date  of  the  Conference  decision  in  1913, 
just  recorded,  the  relation  of  the  General  Mission 
Board  to  each  District  Mission  Board  was  one  of 
outside  helpfulness, — that  is,  if  the  District  Board 
needed  financial  help,  it  called  on  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board,  and  if  the  latter  had  the  funds  on  hand, 
assistance  was  appropriated.  The  extent  of  such 
aid  is  seen  in  column  "e"  of  table  on  page  271.  If 
the  General  Mission  Board  did  not  have  the  funds, 
it  granted  no  further  help,  neither  did  it  concern  it- 
self how  the  needy  District  Board  would  get  along 
without  the  help.  The  General  Board,  according  to 
the  plan  of  1884,  was  to  have  nothing  to  do  with 
District  Missions  beyond  this  possible  assistance. 
The  District  Mission  Boards  were  accountable  to 
their  own  State  Districts,  and  if  both  Board  and  Dis- 
trict were  indifferent  to  the  needs  of  their  own  ter- 
ritory, that,  apparently,  ended  it  all.  There  was  no 
remedy. 

This  situation  had  its  advantages.  It  avoided 
making  a  central  power  out  of  the  General  Mission 
Board,  and  threw  the  burden  of  work  and  direction 
upon  men  on  or  near  the  place  where  the  mission 
work  was  being  done.  But  it  also  had  its  disadvan- 
tages. First,  the  territory  was  not  equally  divided. 
A  frontier  District,  like  North  and  South  Carolina, 
Georgia  and  Florida,  all  in  one,  was  a  field  the  Dis- 
trict Mission  Board  of  which  was  unable  to  handle, 
while  Middle  Maryland,  for  an  example  on  the  other 
hand,  was  a  territory  of  several  small  counties  in 
one  State.     The  contrast  was   still   more  striking 

266 


One  Organization 

from  another  angle.  The  former  District  had  a  few 
congregations,  with  a  few  members  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances, scattered  over  a  large  territory,  while 
the  latter  District  had  financially  and  numerically 
strong  congregations,  living  close  together.  It  is 
no  disrespect  to  the  frontier  Districts  to  say  that 
their  talent,  good  as  far  as  it  went,  was  scarce,  while 
in  the  "  inside "  Districts  talent  was  plentiful,  of 
the  best,  and  often  lying  idle.  This  made  the  prob- 
lem of  District  Missions  a  peculiar  one  in  this,  that 
the  "inside"  District  Boards  had  a  comparatively 
easy  task,  while  the  frontier  boards  had  discourag- 
ingly  large  ones.  True,  the  General  Mission  Board 
sought  to  be  an  "  equalizer  "  between  the  strong 
and  the  weak,  and  did  help  financially,  but  the  great 
lack  was  not  only  means,  but  MEN, — more  capable 
men  to  solve  the  BIG  problems  of  District  missions 
in  frontier  territory. 

Further,  in  many  Districts,  District  missions  were 
a  sort  of  a  side  issue,  and  did  not  receive  from  the 
District  the  support  and  prayers  they  should  have 
had.  Annual  Conference,  up  to  1913,  had  not  made 
any  provisions  to  help  these  District  Boards,  They 
were  rarely  given  any  word  of  recognition.  They 
had  common  problems,  were  laboring  in  similar  ter- 
ritory, and  interchange  of  thought  and  experience 
would  have  been  helpful.  A  few  attempts  were 
made  to  have  the  members  of  the  District  Boards 
meet  at  some  time  during  the  Conference.  First 
the  meeting  was  held  in  the  Tabernacle,  but  the 
speakers,  it  would  appear,  talked  to  be  heard  by  the 
miscellaneous  assemblage  that  came  to  listen,  rath- 

267 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

er  than  for  the  benefit  of  the  other  members  of  the 
Boards  present.  Several  meetings  were  held  for 
members  of  District  Boards  only,  and  these  have 
been  very  helpful.  It  is  hoped  that  out  of  the  de- 
cision of  1913,  w^ill  grow  a  plan  by  which  the  Dis- 
trict Boards  and  the  General  Board  will  come  closer 
together  in  helping  each  other. 

If  all  the  foregoing,  and  perhaps  other  points  not 
mentioned,  are  taken  into  account,  the  record  of  the 
State  District  Boards,  on  the  whole,  is  a  good  one. 
That  a  closer  study  of  the  subject  may  be  available, 
a  tabulated  history  is  given  here,  compiled  from  re- 
ports made  during  the  spring  of  1913.  But  here,  again 
difficulties  have  been  met.  Many  Districts  did  not 
keep  records  at  first  and  the  reports  from  some  an- 
gles are  incomplete  or  only  estimated.  In  several 
instances  large  Districts  have  been  divided,  which 
makes  it  difficult  to  give  proper  credit;  some  Dis- 
tricts have  grown  weaker  through  emigration,  and 
this  in  spite  of  all  that  the  District  Board  could 
do.  In  the  tables  following  the  officer  making  the 
report  did  his  best,  with  the  data  at  hand,  and  it  is 
given  for  what  it  is  worth.  An  approximately  ac- 
curate statement  of  District  Missions  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  spring  of  1913,  is  given  in  the  second 
table. 


268 


One  Organization 

THE    DISTRICTS    AND    TEE    NAMES    07    THE    MEKBEBS 
OF  EACH  BOARD.  TIME  WHEN  TERM  OF  SERVICE 

EXPIRES. 

1.  Arkansas  and  Southeastern  Missouri,  H.  I.  Buechley,  1915; 

J.  H.  Whitcher.  1914;   P.  F.  Boyt,   1913. 

2.  California,  Northern,   No   Report. 

3.  California,  Southern,  W.   E.   Trestle,   1913;   W.   H.   Werten- 

baker,    1917;    Geo.    Basher,    1916;    C.    W.    Guthrie,    1916; 
Ira  B.   Netzley,   1916. 

4.  Colorado,    Western    and    Utah,    J.    A.    Austin,    1915;    A.    A. 

"Weaver,   1914;  W.  R.  Hernbaker,   1913. 

5.  Idaho  and  Western  Montana,  L.  H.  Eby,  1914;  S.  S.  Neher, 

1915;   David  Betts,   1916. 

6.  Illinois,    Northern,    and   Wisconsin,    John   Heckman,    1915; 

Elmer    Zuck,     1913;     M.     W.     Emmert,     1914;    J.    H.     B. 
Williams,  1917;  James  M.  Moere,  1916. 

7.  lUinois,    Southern,    D.    J.    Blickenstaff,    1917;    E.    E.    Bru- 

baker,    1915;    G.    W.    Sensenbaugh,    1916;    H.    H.    Gruber, 
1914;   J.   J.   Scrogum,   1913. 

8.  Indiana,    Middle,    D.    M.    Byerly,    1914;    J.    H.    Neff,    1913; 

J.  B.  Bailey,  1916;  J.  G.  Stinebaugh,  1917;  J.  W.  Norris, 
1915. 

9.  Indiana,  Northern,  D.  R.  Toder,  1915;  Frank  Kreider,  1913; 

J    H     Schrock    1914. 

10.  Indiana,   Southern,    D.   W.    Bowman,    1914;    E.    P.    Dunbar, 

1915;  John  F.  Shoemaker,   1913.  ^^    ^^ 

11.  Iowa,  Middle,  W.  E.  West,  1915;  E.  C.  Trostle,  1914;  W.  H. 

Royer,  1913;  A.  M.  Stine,  1915;  D.  W.  Wise,  1913. 

12.  Iowa,  Northern  and  Minnesota,  I.   M.  Forney,   1915;  H.  C. 

Sheller,    1915;   T.   L.   Kimmel,   1914  ,„,o     ttt 

13    Iowa,  Southern,  D.  F.  Sink,  1913;  Peter  Brower,   1913;  W. 
D.    Grove.   1914.  , .     „    ^     -r, 

14.  Kansas,  Northeastern,  R.  A.  Toder,  1915;  H.  L.  Brammel, 

1917;  C.  W.   Shoemaker,   1916;   I.   L.  Hoover,   1913;  Benj. 
Forney,    1914.  ^  „  ,        ,        .      „ 

15.  Kansas,    Northwestern   and   Northeastern    Colorado,    AC. 

Daggett,    1916;    D.    A.    Crist,    1917;    T.    E.    George,    1914; 
C.  A.  Ball,   1913;  F.  A.  Wagner,   1913.  ^     „     ^^t  u 

16.  Kansas,    Southeastern,    S.    E.    Lantz,    1915;    D.    P.    Neher, 

17.  Kansas',  Southwestern  and  Southern  Colorado,  J.  J.  Yoder, 

1915-    M     J.    Mishler,    1914;    D.    Hamm,    1915;    John    N. 
Dresher,    1914;    F.   A.   Vaniman,    1913. 

18.  Maryland,  Eastern,   Chas.   D.  Bonsack    1914;  W    E    Reop, 

1914;    G.    S.    Harp,    1915;    F.    D.    Anthony,    1915;    Geo.    S. 

19.  MaryiaS' mddie,  David  M.   Zuck.   1913;  D.  Victor  Long. 
13.  •"'-aY^g.   ^^^^^  ^^^g^   J917.   joi^n  S.  Bowlus,   1914;   John  E. 

20  Ma^yland,^  western,  A.  L.  Sines.  1915 ;  James  W    Beeghley 
ao.  aiaryiaiiu,   ^    ^bernathy,  1913;  Daniel  Baker,   1917;   Perry 

21  MiSi^lrc'K'^ilkins.   1913;   Peter  B.  Messner.   1914;   S. 

21.  »^cni|a^         1914;  J.  E.  Ulrey.  1915;  D.  E.  Sower.  1915- 

22.  Missouri,    Middle,    Ira  Witmore.    1914;    L.    B.    Ihrig.    1915; 

23.  Mis^solri,''NSrn?'j.' S.'Bewman.  1914;  E.  L.  Shoemaker. 

-i  Q 1  o  .    T     Tp    "V^iiTiDGlt     X  9 1 5 
84    Missouri.    Southern,    and    Northwestern    Arkansas,    W.    M. 

24.  »^i^«Og^j^';^o*°d'^'^915'.    w.   P.    Burress     1913;    N.   A.    Duncan. 

1914.      (Based  on  Almanac  report.) 

(Continued  on  Page  272.) 

269 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

To  prepare  the  following  statistical  table,  the  fol- 
lowing questions  were  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  each 
Board.  The  letter  at  the  beginning  of  the  question  is 
the  key  to  the  letter  at  the  head  of  the  column : 

(a)  What  date  was  your  District  Board  authorized  by 
the  District  Meeting? 

(b)  How  many  regular  meetings  does  your  Board  hold 
each   year? 

(c)  What  month  does  your  fiscal  year  begin? 

(d)  What  is  the  total  amount  raised  in  the  District  for 
District    Missions    since   your   organization? 

(e)  What  financial  help  has  your  District  received  from 
the  General  Mission  Board  since  your  organization?  (A 
few  included  help  on  meetinghouses,  and  so  this  column 
is  corrected  according  to  the  books  of  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board,  and  the  amounts  given  refer  only  to  District 
Mission  work.) 

(f)  How  much  money  did  you  spend  for  District  mis- 
sion work  during  the  last  fiscal  year? 

(g)  At  how  many  places  are  you  maintaining  missions? 
(h)   How  many  more  congregations  in  the  District  now 

than  there  were  when  your  Board  was  organized? 

*  Before   California  was  divided  it  received   $3,110.00. 

2  This  includes  Washington  and  Baltimore  Missions. 

3  Before  Idaho,  Washington  and  Oregon  were  divided,  they 
received   $10,629. 

*  Before  divided.  Second  Virginia  received  $350.  The  Dis- 
trict Board  was  organized  in  1895,  had  nine  members  on  the 
Board,  met  three  times  a  year  and  had  raised  $16,396.73. 

^  Before  divided,   First  Virginia  received   $250. 

*  None. 
**  Less. 


270 


One  Organization 

a       be                 i  e  fwii 

1.  Ark..               1898      2    ..;.        $^.: $6,817.00  $       '  6  ° 

2.  Cal..  N..  1907      4     Oct.,          5,304.71  »2,7S0.0O  ^i.mSQ  §  'g 

^  ^'•'  w'  ^0   t  ?"=':•    ^^•25°'^  '2.2'0.00  2384.30  5  14 

4.  Col.,  W.,^   1909   3  Jan.-,-    500.00  600  00  3 

I-  Jm^-\t  loi^   o  ^I?"''   ;i.500.00  500.00  300.00  4  .".' 

^-  I  ■•  ?••  Jooc   ?  J"'^'    58,074.49  90O00  5,423.00  10  13 

Z.  111..  S..  1885   1  ...;.    34,500.00  '300.00  1527  71  8 

I-   ?"^  ^-  i««  ^i  S"'-    21,002.43  237.50  3  096.37  9  11 

9.  Ind.,  N..    1885   4  Oct., 451.50  2  276  76  7  9 

10.  Ind.,   S.,  1886  3-5     Oct..         13,488.19  1.870.00  1523  47  12  8 

11.  la.,  M.,-  1882      4     Sept.,,        19  437.58  4045.00  1 514  06  2 

12.  la..  N.,  1877     2    Aug..        34,321.09  451O00  40S661  2  8 

I'^'-Mw'    ^^^      i     l^" 3,700.00  1.447.93  S  3 

15.  Ks.,  N.  W                 1     Oct.,               7.595.00  2,083.30  3;: 

r|.  ■Ks..  S.  E  1893      3    Oct.,           S.599.67  2.780.00  787.60  3  *• 

«    ^/h'  I  ^•'  \lll     1    ?"'■■',        52.433.32  2,550.00  3,006.04  S  6 

18.  Md..  E., .  1889      4    April,          7.748.32  ^11,239.77  905  79  7  6 

19.  Md..  M..  1890      4    April,         .7  400.00  50000  200  00  6  3 

20.  Md..  W.,  1898  1-4    Oct...             322.11  .....  2000  3  • 

i\-  ^'"''•V  Iffi     \    A"^'          ^'30000  1.600.00  1,432-49  3  13 

22-  Mo..   M.,         887      2    Oct., 4,715.00  93%8  3  3 

23-  Mo.,   N..         1892      1    Oct.,          3.350.00  151.71  7  i 

2^-  Mo     S _,__  2,870.Q0 

25.  Neb., ,  3  7QOnn 

26.  Car..  N..  1902  1-3    Feb.,           1,085.63  i;500:00  ::::""  k 

28.  Oh..  N.  E.,      1896      4    Sept.,        *  4  200  00  1  1 

^.nn^'^Q^  ifo^,     ^   ^f""'        '3'53^8I  1.35O00  imji  6  * 

^?-  R^i'  ^•'  CO,      o    ^P"'-       ^°'^*'^  *  5.000.00  U  S 

iV  R  '^'             \f,l      I    ?^P''        • '•'420.00  1,464.43  S  15 

»   S'^^t  ^U     i  J"'^'           l'"2.96  3S00.0O  537.65  4  2 

il'  ?^"  ?V'  tnf     ^'    ^P'i'-       63.877.82  2,448.96  1.582.03  4  26 

it  P^'  C-'p  o??      -i    ^P*""'        ^^''5613  880.00  761.01  5  14 

35.  Pa..  S:  E.„  19U      2    Oct.              924.69  420.00  458.60  3  I 

52'  _  •'  ''•'            -  •     April SO  00  490 17  rt  A 

37.  Pa.,  W.,  1895  2-3    March,     24,728.31  *  140097  5  5 

MT.T"  \f^      f    l'^'-'.         '•676  81  1.100.00  'S  5  4 

3o   V*   'l  «Q7      1    Pl^-          2.731.25  7,240.00  549.72  10  2 

2l    vS"  i?            lo?{      o    J."'y-'         '*  553.29  6  12 

ik  v\"  m"  on      ?    ^"^V            58683  «*  691.45  6  2 

«.  Va.,  N.,  1910      3    April,         1.521 66  <♦  lOOOO  2  2 

S  Va"  I-  ^?^     I    M'!'         2,80000  4*  moo  3  2 

i»"  •.!?■'      '           1^13      2    Aphl,        B* 

46"  w'  Va     I  IsJs     ?    n".'-         2.18U3  »1,000.00  i.VlV.OO  3  W 

47:  w:  Va.:  k  !'''  ,!  °':!-     :::::;:;.  2^,00 .  ..''^'"  ,'  .^ 

H.f^  «         ,<  ,  T,       .  .           $474,897.34  $92,939.73  $59,929,61 

Help  from  General  Board  before  division  as  s'^^,^«-:',ui 

seenjn  the  footnotes- of  the  table 14  339.00 

Total  from  General  Board  jo  District 

Boards $107,278.73 


271 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

25.  NeTjraska,    A.    J.    Nickey,    1913;    Geo.    Mishler,    1915;    Levi 

Meek,   1914. 

26.  North    and    South    Carolina,    Georg'ia   and   Florida,    H.    M. 

Griffith,    1915;    Geo.    A.    Branscom,    1914;    L.    A.    Jones, 
1913. 

27.  North  Dakota,  Eastern  Montana  and  Canada,  D.  F.  Landls, 

1915;   J.   S.   Shaffer,  1914;  Frank  Dollahan,   1914;  Geo.  C. 
Deardorff,   1913;   J.  D.  Kesler,   1913. 

28.  Ohio,    Northeastern,    Jas.    Murray,    1915;    R.    M.    Moomaw, 

1914;  A.  S.  Halteman,  1916. 

29.  Ohio,  Northwestern,  D.   N.   Schubert,   1913;  J.   I.   Lindower, 

•    1913;  N.  I.  Cool,  1915;  D.  G.  Berkebile,  1915;  Noah  Long. 
1914. 

30.  Ohio,    Southern,    Sylvan    Bookwalter,    1916;     Clarence    A. 

Baker,   1917;  Adam  Pfeifer,   1915;  D.  F.   Priser,   1914;  D. 
M.   Garver,    1913. 

31.  Oklahoma,    Panhandle    of    Texas    and    Pecos    Valley,    New 

Mexico,  Jno.   R.   Pitzer,   1916;   J.   A.  Byerly,   1917;  W.   P. 
Bosserraan,    1915.  ,,  ^„_ 

32.  Oregon,    Harry    Brubaker,    1913;    Thomas    Barklow,    1914; 

M.   C.    Llnlnger,    1915. 

33.  Pennsylvania,  Eastern,  S.  H.  Hertzler.  1914;  J.  H.  Longe- 

necker,    1918;    D.    Kilhefner,    1914;    Rufus    Bucher,    1917; 
Geo.  W.  Weaver.   1916.  ^    _    ,,.„ 

34.  Pennsylvania,  Middle,  J.  B.  Brumbaugh,  191b;  J.  B.  Miller, 

1914;    W.    H.    Holsinger,     1916;    H.    A.    Spanogle.     1917; 
John   Bennett,    1918. 

35.  Pennsylvania,    Southeastern,   New   York    and   New   Jersey, 

J.    K.    Miller,    1916;    M.    C.    Swigart,    1914;    W.    S.    Price, 
1917;   M.  B.  Miller,   1915;  W.   G.  Nyce,   1913. 

36.  Pennsylvania,    Southern,    J.    A.    Long,    1914;    C.    L.    Baker, 

1916;   C.   R.  Oellig,    1915;  D.  A.   Faust,   1915;   M.  A.  Ja- 
cobs    1915 

37.  Pennsylvania,  Western,   J.   J.    Shaffer,   1918;   P.   J.   Blough, 

1915;  W.  M.  Howe,  1916;  S.  U.  Shobes,  1914;  H.  S.  Rep- 
logle    1917 

38.  Tennessee,  P.'  D.  Reed,  1914;  A.  E.  Nead,  1913;  C    H.  Diehl. 

1916;   N.    B.    Sherfy,    1915;    S.   J.   Bowman,    1917. 

39.  Texas    and    Louisiana,    Lafayette    Sutphin,    1913;    H.    M. 

Peters,    1915;    J.    M.    Moore,    1914.  .    ,„,„     ^    t:, 

40.  Virginia,  Pirst,  D.   N.   EUer,    1918;   Levi  Garst,   1916;   C    E. 

Eller,    1917;    R.    G.    Layman,    1915;    W.    T.    Crumpacker, 

41.  Virginia,  Eastern,  S.  A.  Sanger.  1914;  E.  E.  Blough,  1915; 

W.   F.   Hale,    1913.  ^„^,      ,     ^  ,..,, 

42.  Virginia,   Northern,   D.   H.   Zigler.    1914;   J.   Carson   Miller, 

1913;   J.   M.   Kagey.   1915.  o     t     -ci  ^a^K■ 

43.  Virginia,   Second,    J.    B.    Coffman,    1914;    S.    I.    Flory,    1915, 

T     W^     T-T  p  *^  *=?      1916 

44.  Virginia,    Southern,  "S.    M.    Ikenberry,    1916;    W.    A.    Elgin, 

1916;  J.  BowmaA,  1915;  J.  F.  Keith,  1915;  A.  N.  Hylton, 

45.  Washington,   D.    B.    Eby,    1914;   M.   F.   Woods.   1915;    J.    S. 

4S    West^ Virginia,  Pirst,  Peter  Arnold,   1915;   Isaac  J.   Saville. 
1913;  EzTa  Fike,  1914;  John  S.  Fike.  1916;  John  R.  Rig- 

47.  Weft'vir^^nii^^Second,  W.  J.  Row.  1914;  A.  C.  Auvil.  1915; 
J.  F.  Ross,   1913. 


272 


Plate    7 


Opposite    272 


J.  J.  Yoder  Chas.   D.   Bonsack 

H.    C.    Early        A.  B.  Barnliart 
John    Zuck  J.   H.   B.  Williams 


L.  W.  Teeter 
Otho  Winger 
S.    Bock 


IX. 

'Biog:tap|)icaI 

S.  IRA  ARNOLD 
Missionary  to  India,  1913 

D.  T.  Arnold,  of  German  descent,  was  born  in  West 
Virginia,  and  now  lives  in  Johnson  County,  Missouri. 
Barbara  Weaver,  who  became  his  wife,  was  born  near 
Lima,  Ohicv.  Both  were  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  The  families  for  some  generations  belong  to 
that  church.  To  them  were  given  seven  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  S.  Ira,  born  on  March  2,  1885,  on  a 
farm  near  Leeton,  Missouri,  is  the  ninth  child.  He  had 
the  advantages  of  the  country  school  and  two  years  in 
Leeton,  Missouri,  until  he  was  fourteen.  Because  of  the 
death  of  his  dear  mother  at  this  time,  he  began  to  work  on 
the  farm  for  wages.  This  he  did  until  nineteen  years  of 
age,  when,  with  $65,  as  the  saving  of  the  years,  he  entered 
McPherson  College  Preparatory  Department,  to  spend  one 
term;  but  he  spent  three  years,  and  finished  the  Prepara- 
tory Course.  He  taught  one  year  and  returned  to  Mc- 
Phersqn  College,  spending,  in  the  next  five  years,  four  at 
McPherson,  where  he  completed  the  College  Course  in 
1913,  and  one  }'ear  at  Bethany  Bible  School,  Chicago. 

On  May  28,  1913,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
E.   Bartholow. 

In  the  Mineral  Creek  congregation,  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen, Ira  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  was 
baptized  in  October,  1899,  by  E.  E.  John.  As  soon  as  old 
enough,  he  became  a  Sunday-school  teacher,  served  as  su- 
perintendent and  has   been   active   in  church  work.     At 

273 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

McPheTson,  on  April  4,  1909,  he  was  called  to  the  minis- 
try, and  in  1911  was  advanced  to  the  second  degree. 
Though  hard  pressed  for  time  to  push  his  way  through 
school  and  keep  up  his  work,  he  found  time  to  preach 
regularly,  and  has  held  two  series  of  meetings.  Thus 
prepared  he  is  going  to  India  this  fall,  hoping  to  be  able 
to  do  a  good  work  for  the  Master  in  that  needy  field. 

MRS.  S.  IRA  ARNOLD,  NEE  ELIZABETH 
BARTHOLOW 

Missionary  to  India,  1913 

To  A.  H.  and  Mary  E.  Fouch  Bartholow,  both  of  Ger- 
man descent  and  born  in  Maryland,  were  given  eight 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Elizabeth,  their  ninth  child, 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Yale,  Iowa,  on  May  28,  1885. 
She  attended  the  Yale  public  school  and  then  the  Guthrie 
County  high  school  until  she  was  prepared  to  teach. 
After  spending  two  years  in  the  school-room  as  teacher, 
she  concluded  that  it  was  not  her  calling  and  accepted 
a  position  in  a  store  for  two  years.  About  this  time  she 
learned  of  Bethany  Bible  School,  Chicago,  entered  that 
institution  in  the  fall  of  1911,  and  spent  two  years  on  a 
Bible  Course. 

On  May  28,  1913,  she  was  united  in  marriage  with  S. 
Ira  Arnold. 

Elizabeth's  parents  are  riiembers  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  breathed  into  the  home  an  earnest  spiritual 
life.  However,  coming  under  the  influence  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  in  Yale,  at  nineteen,  Elizabeth  united  with  that 
body  of  believers.  She  was  active  in  church  work,  seek- 
ing to  do  all  she  could  for  her  Master.  On  August  27, 
1911,  she  was  baptized  in  the  Coon  River  congregation  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  by  Ellis  F.  Caslow,  and  a 
short  time  after  entered  heart  and  mind  into  better  prep- 
aration for  church  work,  where  the  Lord  would  call  her. 
She  is  glad  to  join  her  husband  on  the  mission  field  of 
India,  for  she  has  had  missions  on  her  heart  since  her 
childhood. 

274 


Biographical 

ABRAM   B.   BARNHART 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1898-1906 

Of  good  German  ancestral  blood,  Abram  Barnhart,  son 
of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Baker)  Barnhart,  was  born  on 
a  farm  about  four  miles  west  of  Waynesboro,  Franklin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  June  9,  1840.  The  precious  asso^ 
ciation  of  the  home,  however,  was  early  broken  into  by 
placing  the  lad  into  a  store  when  but  twelve  years  old, 
so  that  the  educational  advantages  he  had,  all  pre- 
ceded this.  In'  the  store  he  met  people,  learned  human 
nature,  and  developed  to  be  a  very  practical  man.  He  has 
been  in  the  store  or  office  all  his  life-time,  has  prospered 
and  been  blessed.  He  has  lived  in  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land, where  he  now  resides,  since  1888. 

Hannah  M.,  daughter  of  William  M.  Kuhnes,  through 
marriage  on  October  6,  1861,  cast  her  lot  in  life  with  him, 
and  to  them  have  been  given  seven  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters,  of  whom   three   are   still   living. 

At  the  Creek  Hill  house,  in  the  Welsh  Run  congrega- 
tion of  the  Middle  District  of  Maryland,  Abram  and  his 
wife  gave  their  heaJ"ts  to  the  Lord,  in  the  summer  of 
1882,  publicly  confessed  Christ  through  baptism  adminis- 
tered by  Nicholas  Martin,  and  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren.  As  a  laymember  he  made  a  good  impres- 
sion of  faithfulness,  and  in  1885  the  congregation  called 
him  to  the  deacon's  office.  The  next  year  he  was  elected 
to  the  ministry.  So  efficient  did  he  prove  himself  in 
the  ministry  of  the  Word  that  in  1886  he  was  advanced  to 
the  second  degree,  and  in  1892  ordained  to  the  bishopric 
through  the  laying  on  of  hands  by  Brethren  David  Long 
and  Daniel  Stauffer.  He  did  much  towards  the  develop- 
ment of  the  congregation  in  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  in  its 
earlier  history.  He  was  used  by  the  District,  serving  as 
Writing  Clerk  ten  consecutive  yeairs.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  raising  the  funds  and  assisting  in  erecting  the 
Old  People's  Home  for  the  District,  located  at  San  Mar, 
and  has  since  taken  an  abiding  interest  in  it.    He  has  been 

275 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

called  to  oversee,  at  different  times,  several  of  the  ad- 
joining congregations.  As  a  member  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee he  has  represented  his  District  four  times,  and 
served  on  a  number  of  committees,  appointed  by  Confer- 
ence, so  that  one  may  justly  characterize  Brother  Barn- 
hart  as  having  been  one  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the 
Church   of  the   Brethren  in   Maryland. 

In  1892  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  General  Mission 
Board,  and  during  the  eight  years  did  not  miss  one  meet- 
ing. On  the  Board  he  was  very  considerate  of  the  others' 
welfare,  yet  earnest  and  faithful.  When  D.  L.  Miller  re- 
signed the  treasurership,  Brother  Barnhart  was  the  first 
chosen  to  take  the  place.  Though  he  could  not  arrange 
to  accept  it,  this  offer  indicates  the  esteem  in  which  he 
was  held,  while  upon  the  Board.  Into  his  hands  was  com- 
mitted the  general  supervision  of  the  erection  of  the 
churchhouse  in  Washington,  D.  C.  Later  the  erection  of 
the  parsonage  was  confided  to  him  also.  With  this  building 
he  did  the  rather  unusual  thing  of  keeping  easily  within 
the  appropriation.  He  was  on  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  Board  to  locate  the  church  property  in  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  and  a  member  of  the  building  committee. 

Of  the  work  of  the  Board  he  has  this  to  say:  "As  I 
came  in  contact  with  the  work  of  missions,  I  was  im- 
pressed that  it  is  the  greatest  work  of  the  church;  but  she 
has  not  been  as  successful  in  the  past  as  her  opportunities 
would  have  permitted  her  to  be.  Success  comes  from 
holding  firmly  to  God's  truth,  fired  with  zeal  to  obey  it, 
thus  enabling  us  to  carry  it  everywhere.  Missions  should 
be  supported  by  our  means  and  prayers.  I  am  glad  to 
see  the  mission  work  of  the  church  growing.  God  is 
blessing  it,  as  seen  in  the  consecration  of  noble  lives  for 
the    foreign    field." 


276 


Biographical 

WILLIAM  W.  BARNHART 
Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  1890-1894 

Anthony  and  Sarah  (Graybill)  Barnhart  were  reared  in 
Rockingham  County,  Virginia.  In  1858  they  located  near 
Ladoga,  Indiana,  and  there,  on  June  23,  1860,  a  son,  whom 
they  called  William,  was  born.  He  was  the  first  child  of 
a  family  of  thirteen.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  developed 
a  strong  physique  and  grew  to  manhood  with  noble  ideals 
instilled  in  him  by  his  parents.  He  sought  books,  was  in- 
terested in  school  and,  after  finishing  the  common  schools, 
spent  one  year  in  Lebanon  College,  Ohio,  and  two  years 
in  Manchester  Bible  Department,  North  Manchester,  In- 
diana. 

January  23,  1890,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma, 
a  daughter  of  John  Smith,  of  Trotwood,  Ohio,  and  to 
them  were  born  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

When  twenty-two  years  old,  William  confessed  Christ 
in  a  series  of  meetings,  held  in  the  Donnels  Creek  con- 
gregation of  the  Southern  District  of  Ohio,  and  united 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren, — I.  J.  Rosenberger  ad- 
ministering the  rite  of  baptism.  He  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Donnels  Creek  Sunday-school  and  for 
many  years  held  the  offices  of  superintendent,  teacher  and 
chorister.  While  living  in  the  Lower  Stillwater  congre- 
gation of  the  Southern  District  of  Ohio,  he  was  called  to 
the  ministry  in  November,  1892,  and  in  1897  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  second  degree  by  the  same  congregation. 
He  was  a  willing  worker  and  much  used  by  the  District 
Mission  Boards. 

He  served  during  the  close  of  the  Book  and  Tract  Work 
organization,  never  missed  a  meeting  while  a  member,  and 
was  much  interested  in  the  field  in  which  it  operated. 

Just  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  while  beginning  to  reap 
the  returns  from  his  long  preparation,  sickness  overtook 
him.  A  sudden  attack  of  pain, — by  doctors  pronounced 
appendicitis, — necessitated  an  operation  which  proved  to 
be  too  late.    November  1,  1910,  unexpected  to  all,  he  passed 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

to  his  reward.  His  last  words  were,  "  Oh,  I  hear  such 
beautiful  singing;  I  want  to  go  and  join  them."  His 
body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  near  North  Man- 
chester,  Indiana. 


STEVEN   P.  BERKEBILE 
Missionary  to  India,  1904 

On  a  farm  in  Cambria  County,  Pennsylvania,  both  David 
Berkebile  and  Sarah  Stutzman  were  reared.  They  were 
married  in  1864.  Soon  after,  he  was  drafted  for  the  army, 
and  served  in  the  commissary  department.  In  1872  the 
family  moved  to  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  and  located  on  a 
farm  near  Delta,  where  the  mother  still  resides.  David, 
for  a  number  of  years,  was  a  bishop  in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren, 

God  blessed  their  marriage  with  five  sons  and  three 
daughters, — Steven,  the  sixth,  being  born  on  July  30,  1877. 
In  the  home,  on  the  farm,  and  in  the  countrj^  schoolhouse, 
Steven  received  his  training  until  sixteen  years  old.  At 
this  time  he  entered  the  Delta  high  school.  Later  he  at- 
tended several  special  terms  of  Bible  School  at  North 
Manchester,  Indiana,  and  continued  his  studies  through 
correspondence,  under  E.  S.  Young,  of  Canton,  Ohio. 

He  chose  for  his  life  companion  Sister  Nora  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Flory,  and  on  February  12,  1902,  they  were 
united  in  marriage.    To  them  have  been  born  two  sons. 

When  but  ten  years  old,  Steven  was  deeply  moved  about 
the  condition  of  the  heathen;  but  not  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  did  he  publicly  confess  Christ.  This  oc- 
curred at  a  regular  service,  at  the  close  of  a  sermon 
preached  by  his  father,  and  there  was  joy  overflowing 
when  the  latter  led  his  son  into  the  water  for  baptism  on 
a  fine  September  day  in  1893.  In  May,  1896,  the  Swan 
Creek  congregation  called  him  to  the  deacon's  office.  The 
year  following,  in  May,  he  was  chosen  to  the  ministry. 
A-bout  six  weeks  after  he  made  his  first  effort  at  preach- 

278 


Biographical 

ing.  In  1900  he  took  up  evangelistic  work,  preferring 
this,  with  its  certain  support  from  the  Lord,  to  a  position 
as  cashier  in  a  bank  near  home,  with  support  from  the 
world.  The  following  year  the  District  Mission  Board  asked 
him  to  take  charge  of  a  mission  in  Fostoria,  Ohio.  He 
located  there,  finding  four  members  in  the  city.  In  1904, 
when  he  and  his  wife  left  for  India,  there  were  twenty- 
seven  members  and  a  flourishing  Sunday-school.  His  own 
State  District, — Northwestern  Ohio, — took  up  their  sup- 
port in  India.  On  June  12,  1912,  in  the  North  Poplar 
Ridge  church,  he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the 
laying  on  of  hands  by  L.  H.  Dickey  and  David  Lytle. 

After  acquiring  the  language  in  India,  Steven  was  as- 
signed the  station  of  Vada,  in  Thana  District,  northeast 
of  Bombay,  a  great,  needy  field,  but  with  a  very  malarious 
climate.  They  worked  faithfully,  but  in  time  disease  took 
such  hold  on  him  that  it  was  deemed  best  to  come  home 
on  sick  furlough  in  1909,  and  try  to  regain  health.  Since 
his  arrival  home  he  has  done  everything  he  could  to  re- 
store health  so  as  to  return  to  the  field.  In  the  spring  of 
1913  the  longings  of  his  heart  were  expressed  in  coming 
before  the  Board  personally,  and  offering  to  go  "just  as 
I  am  and  live  or  die  in  India  "  for  the  sake  of  his  Lord, 
The  Board  prayerfully  considered  the  advisability  of  ac- 
ceding to  his  wishes,  but  after  taking  into  consideration 
his  lack  of  physical  strength,  reluctantly  decided  against 
his  return  to  the  field,  at  least  for  the  present. 


MRS.  STEVEN  P.  BERKEBILE,  NEE  NORA  E. 

FLORY 

"Missionary  to  India,  1904 

To  John  and  Mary  (Shock)  Flory,  ,who  were  born  and 
reared  on  farms  near  Jewell,  Ohio,  and  married  in  1876, 
were  given  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  Nora  E.,  the  old- 
est, being  born  on  September  7,  1877.  Her  pious  parents 
instilled  into  her  noble  ideals;  her  country  schoolteacher 

279 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

stirred  ambitions  within  her  to  be  a  good  schoolteacher; 
her  life  on  the  farm  gave  her  vigor  and  strength,  all  of 
which  combined  to  make  Nora  a  young  woman  of  admir- 
able attainments.  For  four  consecutive  years  she  taught 
school  near  home.  In  1897  she  spent  one  year  at  Man- 
chester College,  North  Manchester,  Indiana,  in  Bible 
School,  and  then  taught  four  more  years. 

On  February  12,  1902,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Steven  P.  Berkebile,  and  has  since,  with  all  her  heart 
and  strength  aided  him  in  his  Christian  work.  To  them 
have  been  born   two   sons. 

When  eleven  years  old,  Nora,  with  two  others,  con- 
fessed Christ,  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
in  the  Poplar  Ridge  congregation,  Northwestern  Ohio. 
Baptism  was  administered  by  Simon  Long.  When  Nora 
was  seventeen  years  of  age,  her  father  was  called  to  the 
ministry,  and  she  took  delight  in  seconding  his  efforts 
wherever  she  could.  She  was  faithful  in  Sunday-school, 
and  enjoyed  most  the   Lord's  work. 

In  India  she  not  only  took  care  of  the  home  but  taught 
the  women's  class  in  Sunday-school,  conducted  women's 
meetings  for  native  Christian  mothers,  had  a  sewing  class 
once  a  week,  spent  the  forenoons  in  the  dispensary,  and 
visited   homes   among  the   Mohammedans. 

One  of  her  most  effectual  ministries  is  her  pen.  Her 
poems  breathe  a  message  of  consecration  that  stirs  the 
soul,  and  her  writings  for  the  church  periodicals  are  of 
unusual  interest  and  force.  She  longs  for  the  day  when 
her  husband's  health  will  permit  them  to  return  to  India, 
to  labor  there. 


ANNA  V.  BLOUGH 

Missionary  to  China,  1913 

Uriah  Blough  and  his  wife,  Mary  (Miller)  Blough,  both 
came  from  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  and,  after 
marriage,  settled  on  a  farm  south  of  Waterloo,  Black- 
hawk  County,  Iowa.    Both  had,  ere  that  time,  united  with 

280 


Biographical 

the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  On  November  22,  1885,  Anna 
v.,  the  third  child  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  was  born.  The  freedom  of  farm  life  she  always 
enjoyed,  and  this  gave  her  zest  for  her  studies  m  the 
country  school.  After  finishing  the  eighth  grade,  Anna 
spent  three  years  at  Mt.  Morris  College  on  the  Academic 
course,  and  four  years  at  Bethany  Bible  School,  in  Chica- 
go,  completing  the   Bible   Teacher-training  course. 

From  infancy  she  was  taken  to  Sunday-school  and 
church.  This,  supplemented  by  the  training  in  her  home, 
in  which  the  Bible  was  read,  prayer  was  made,  and  in 
which  there  was  an  atmosphere  of  desire  to  see  the  chil- 
dren accept  Christ,  prompted  her,  when  thirteen  years 
old,  to  confess  her  Savior.  I.  D.  Parker  was  holding 
meetings  in  the  South  Waterloo  congregation  in  Septem- 
ber, 1898,  when  Sister  Blough  was  one  of  two  baptized 
by  S.  H.  Miller,  the  fatherly  bishop  of  the  congregation. 
With  this  ideal  of  a  noble  Christian  life  before  her,  she 
enjoyed  to  the  full  tlie  spiritual  atmosphere  both  of  Mt. 
Morris  College  and  Bethany  Bible  School,  and  grew 
rapidly  in  spiritual  power.  In  both  institutions  she  was 
active  in  Sunday-school,  prayer  meeting,  missionary  so- 
ciety and  evangelistic  work.  At  Bethany  she  taught  mis- 
sions, and  was  chairman  of  the  Christian  Workers'  Mis- 
sionary Committee.  In  addition  she  did  actual  work  in 
Waterloo,  Iowa,  at  the  Hastings  Street  Mission,  Chicago, 
and  also  in  connection  with  the  Bethany  Bible  School. 

She  goes  forth  to  her  chosen  field  well  grounded  :ii 
faith  in  Christ,  and  with  a  hope  of  helping  some  of  the 
many  millions  about  whom  she  has  studied  so  long  and 
for  whom  she  has  prayed  so  often. 


JACOB  M.  BLOUGH 

Missionary  to  India,  1903 

To  Emanuel  J.  and  Sarah  (Barndt)  Blough,  of  Somerset 
County.  Pennsylvania,  were  born  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters.   The  youngest  child,  Jacob  M.,  was  born  on  Decern- 

281 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ber  12,  1876.  The  father  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  whose 
faithfulness  to  the  Quemahoning  congregation  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  has  been  marked  through  many 
years.  The  sons  were  taught  the  dignity  of  labor,  and  yet 
they  were  given  an  opportunity  to  secure  an  education. 
Jacob,  after  thirteen  years  in  common  school,  and  one 
term  of  nine  weeks  at  Normal,  taught  near  home  three 
years  and  then  one  year  in  the  Hooversville  primary 
grade.  At  eighteen  he  was  given  liberty  to  make  his  own 
way,  and  he  has  done  it  largely  through  teaching.  In 
1899  he  finished  the  English  course  at  Juniata,  and  in  1S)03 
the  College  course.  During  his  college  work  he  was  at 
different  times  assistant  in  Mathematics,  English  and 
Latin.  He  received  valuable  training,  one  yeai",  in  having 
charge  of  the  men's  hall. 

When  not  yet  sixteen,  he  heard  the  call  of  the  Lord 
while  attending  a  series  of  meetings,  conducted  in  the 
Quemahoning  congregation  by  George  S.  Rarick,  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  on  February  8, 
1892,  S.  P.  Zimmerman  administering  baptism.  This 
brought  about  a  great  change  in  his  life.  The  follow- 
ing summer  he  taught  a  Sunday-school  class.  In  '94  he 
led  the  first  Bible  class  and  offered  his  first  public  prayer; 
in  '97  his  home  congregation  called  him  to  the  ministry, 
and  a  year  later  he  was  advanced  to  the  second  degree. 
While  at  Juniata,  in  1899,  he,  with  a  few  others,  organized 
the  Student  Volunteer  Band  for  missions.  He  was  its 
leader  and  greatest  inspiration.  While  he  was  president 
of  the  Young  People's  Missionary  and  Temperance  So- 
ciety, at  Juniata,  a  movement  was  started  to  send  a  mis- 
sionary, and  he  was  the  society's  choice.  Fresh  from  col- 
lege, full  of  enthusiasm  for  his  Master's  service  in  for- 
eign lands,  he  sailed  for  India  in  the  fall  of  1903,  with 
Anna  Detwiler,  who  had  become  his  wife  June  26,  pre- 
vious. 

On  the  field  his  work  has  been  thorough.  His  scholarly 
habits  have  made  him  the  natural  choice  to  edit  the 
Gujerati  Sunday-school  papers,  used  not  only  by  our  own 
mission  but  some  neighboring  missions.     His  home  has 

282 


Biographical 

been  at  Bulsar,  save  one  year  at  Ankleshwer,  where  he 
took  Brother  Stover's  place.  With  the  building  of  a  Bible 
School  at  Bulsar,  in  1913,  he  enters  upon  a  still  greater 
responsibility, — the  head  of  Biblical  instruction  for  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 

Brother  Blough  made  splendid  use  of  his  furlough  in 
1910  and  '11,  touring  thoroughly  his  own  State  District  of 
Western  Pennsylvania, — ^willing  to  go  to  the  lonely  places, 
to  small  congregations,  as  well  as  to  address  larger  ones 
like  on  missionary  day  at  St.  Joseph  Conference  of  1911, 
where  he  also  served  as  Writing  Clerk.  Wherever  he 
went,  he  strengthened  the  cause  of  missions  in  India. 


MRS.  J.  M.  BLOUGH,  NEE  ANNA  DETWILER 
Missionary  to  India,  1903 

Christian  F.  Detwiler  was  a  minister  in  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren;  his  wife,  Salome  Zook,  was  reared  in  a 
home  near  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  To  them  was  born,  on 
December  1,  1872,  a  daughter,  whom  they  called  Anna, 
the  third  in  a  family  of  seven  children.  In  1880,  when 
eight  years  old,  her  parents  moved  to  Ohio,  while  she 
went  to  Pennsylvania,  to  live  and  grow  to  womanhood. 
Two  years  later,  Anna  received  word  that  her  mother  had 
died.  Later  her  father  married  again,  and  made  a  home 
foT  his  children  near  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania. 

Anna  had  little  opportunity  for  securing  an  education. 
In  1891  she  was  in  Huntingdon,  in  the  home  of  J.  B. 
Brumbaugh.  Five  years  she  remained  and  spent,  what 
time  she  could  spare  from  making  her  way,  in  Juniata 
College.  Three  summers  she  spent  at  the  seashore,  as 
waitress;  one  year  she  worked  in  Philadelphia,  two  years 
in  a  factory  in  Huntingdon,  one  year  as  matron  of  the 
Orphans'  Home  in  the  same  city,  two  years  as  kitchen 
matron,  and  one  year  as  dining  hall  matron  at  the  col- 
elge.  This  variety  of  vocations  gave  her  a  broad  train- 
ing that  has  aided  her  greatly  in  her  life  work,  though 

283 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

often,  during  these  years,  she  felt  the  burden  heavy  to 
bear. 

In  a  series  of  meetings,  in  September,  1886,  held  in 
Johnstown,  Pennsylvania,  Anna  confessed  Christ  and  was 
baptized  by  Jacob  Holsopple.  She  soon  became  a  Sun- 
day-school teacher,  at  college  was  president  of  the  Mis- 
sion Band,  and  leader  of  the  College  Girls'  Christian  Band 
for  several  terms.  In  1901  she  joined  the  Volunteer  Band. 
Her  last  year  was  spent  entirely  in  Bible  study. 

On  June  26,  1903,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Jacob 
M.  Blough,  Her  labors  of  love  and  kindness  in  India, 
though  little  is  said  of  them  publicly,  have  touched  every 
missionary  and  she  has  endeared  herself  to  every  one 
who  has  come  in  touch  with  her. 


SAMUEL   BOCK 
Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  1885-1894 

Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Gable)  Bock  were  raised  in 
Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  united  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  early  married  life.  Some  time 
after,  they  moved  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  settling  on 
a  farm  near  Loudonville.  The  husband  was  called  to  the 
ministry  and  did  much  pioneer  preaching  in  his  early 
day.  Here,  on  Januafy  8,  1840,  Samuel,  the  fourth  child 
in  a  family  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  was  born. 
The  lad's  training  was  on  the  farm;  his  education  was  se- 
cured in  a  log  schoolhouse,  where  the  benches  were  around 
the  walls.  Though  he  was  not  permitted  to  have  a  good 
education  himself,  in  later  life  he  knew  its  value,  and  ad- 
vocated and  supported  it  for  others.  He  continued  on 
the  farm  and  in  the  nursery  business  until,  because  of 
advanced  age,  he  retired  from  hard  physical  labor.  From 
1898  to  1911  he  was  Immigration  Agent  for  the  Oregon 
Short  Line  Railroad.  When  he  entered  theiV  employ,  there 
was  one  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  South- 
ern Idaho.     When  he  quit  the  service  there  were  twelve 

284 


Biographical 

congregations,  with  over  six  hundred  members.  He  is 
now  retired  from  active  duties,  and  now  resides  at  Pomo- 
na,   Cahfornia. 

He  chose  for  a  life  companion  Sister  Catherine  Hoover, 
to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  on  March  10,  1864. 
To  them  were  given  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  One 
son  is  still  living. 

When  nineteen  years  old,  Samuel  confessed  Christ  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Wolf 
Creek  congregation,  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  Samuel  Garber 
administering  baptism.  Brother  Bock  was  a  pusher  in 
church  work.  It  was  his  privilege  to  live  in  the  Lower 
Miami  congregation,  the  first  one  in  the  District  of  South- 
ern Ohio  to  have  a  Sunday-school.  He  was  ever  ready  to 
do  his  part.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  West  Dayton 
congregation,  and  by  it  was  called  to  the  deacon's  office 
May  17,  1889.  In  this  capacity  he  served  the  church  long 
and  well. 

As  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Book  and  Tract  Work 
(its  history  is  found  in  Chapter  VI),  authorized  by  Con- 
ference of  1885,  he  did  his  greatest  work  for  the  church, 
and  found  his  greatest  joy  in  service,  because  he  felt  that, 
while  thus  employed,  he  had  the  prayers  of  the  Brother- 
hood. The  duty  of  executing  the  Committee's  plans  and 
purposes,  largely  devolved  upon  him.  The  distribution 
of  the  large  amount  of  tracts  and  books  all  rested  upon 
him.  The  finances  and  their  care  was  entrusted  to  him. 
And  as  the  work  increased,  he  spared  not  his  time  nor 
his  talent,  to  render  satisfaction  to  the  many  patrons.  It 
was  his  privilege  to  attend  thirty-five  Annual  Meetings, 
the  first  one  in  1848,  and  he  noted  the  changes  and  prog- 
ress the  church  has  made  in  that  period  with  pleasure.  In 
the  annals  of  the  beginning  of  missionary  activities  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  his  name  will  be  perpetuated. 


285 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

CHARLES  D.  BONSACK 
Member  General  Mission  Board,  1906 

David  D.  and  Catherine  Roop  Bonsack  were  descend- 
ants from  several  generations  of  loyal  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  so  that,  vi^hen  their  son,  Charles 
D.,  came  into  their  home  March  11,  1870,  on  a  farm  near 
Westminster,  Maryland,  he  had  the  blood  of  a  devout 
Christ-life  in  him.  Charles  was  the  third  child  in  a  fam- 
ily of  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Hard-working  peo- 
ple, earnest  and  sincere,  and  in  good  standing  in  their 
communitj',  the  parents  exerted  a  healthful  influence  over 
the  lives  of  their  children.  Charles  was  fond  of  books, 
and  made  good  use  of  the  public  school.  As  he  grew  old- 
er, he  sought  the  association  of  teachers  and  people  of 
culture,  and  even  within  the  last  eighteen  years  he  has 
not  missed  a  winter  without  devoting  from  one  to  four 
weeks  to  study  in  school,  especially  along  his  chosen  line, 
—the  Bible. 

At  seventeen  he  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  and 
managed  it  for  four  years.  Then  he  farmed  for  himself, 
for  the  next  ten  years.  Though  successful  as  a  farmer, 
and  having  his  financial  interests  in  farms  and  orchards, 
he  has  not  since  returned  to  the  soil. 

He  chose  Sister  Ida  Trostle,  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  daughter  of  John  Trostle,  for  his  wife,  and  was 
married  December  16,  1891.  To  them  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  were  given,  all  of  whom  a^re  now  in  the  church, 
and  preparing  for  usefulness  in  the  kingdom. 

Charles  counts  his  second  birth  from  October  28,  1888, 
when,  through  baptism  administered  by  E.  Babylon,  he 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Even  in  his 
youth  he  had  great  interest  in  affairs  of  the  church.  He 
would  sit  in  the  house  and  listen,  as  visiting  brethren 
discussed  church  problems  with  his  father.  Now,  that 
Christ  was  his  life,  that  he,  a  sinner,  had  been  saved  by 
g^ace,  his  whole  being  sought  expression  in  service  for 
his  Lord.     On  December  22,  1891,  he  was  called  to  the 

286 


Biographical 

ministry  and  May,  1906,  he  was  ordained  a  bishop.  For 
ten  years  he  tried  to  farm  and  preach.  He  did  well 
enough  at  the  former,  but  was  not  satisfied  with  his  ef- 
forts and  results  in  the  latter.  Discontinuing  farming 
and  entering  the  evangelistic  field,  he  labored  for  three 
years,  or  till  1906,  at  which  time  he  took  the  pastorate  of 
the  Washington,  D.  C,  congregation.  His  earnest,  tactful 
labors  here  manifested  themselves  in  an  increasing  mem- 
bership and  a  deeper  spiritual  life.  But  desiring  to  edu- 
cate his  children  under  Brethren  influences,  he  resigned, 
and  moved  his  family  to  Union  Bridge,  Maryland,  to  cast 
his  lot  with  the  fortunes  of  that  church  school.  In  1912 
the  school  was  moved  to  New  Windsor,  Maryland,  and 
in  the  reorganization  he  accepted  the  position  of  treas- 
urer,  which   place   he   now   fills. 

He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Mission  Board  of 
Eastern  Maryland  for  the  last  thirteen  years,  and  has 
been  Foreman  of  that  Board  for  about  eight  years.  Twice 
he  has  been  Moderator  of  his  District  Meeting,  and  once 
he  has  represented  his  District  at  Annual  Meeting.  In 
1906  he  was  appointed  on  the  General  Mission  Board, 
where  he  has  delighted  to  labor  for  the  church.  In  1907, 
when  H.  C.  Early  could  not  be  a  member  of  a  visiting 
committee  to  the  churches  in  Europe,  Brother  Bonsack 
was  chosen  as  his  substitute.  The  trip  was  full  of  in- 
terest to  him,  and  his  messages  to  the  members  in  Eu- 
rope, though  given  through  an  interpreter,  were  helpful 
and  appreciated.  The  committee's  visit  extended  into 
France,  and  some  rather  difficult  work  was  done  there. 
Through  all  this  he  proved  a  wise  counselor,  true  to  Christ 
and  his  church.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  that 
framed  the  missionary  educational  campaign,  now  in  use 
among  the  churches. 


287 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

SAMUEL  T.  BOSSERMAN 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1880  to  1884 

Daniel  and  Barbara  (Bair)  Bosserman,  successful  farm- 
ers of  German  descent,  lived  near  New  Stark,  Hancock 
County,  Ohio,  in  1842,  when,  on  November  14,  their  son 
Samuel  began  his  career.  His  home  was  a  log  cabin,  in 
the  upstairs  of  which  he  attended  subscription  school, 
when  old  enough.  When  the  district  schoolhouse  was 
built,  he  eagerly  sought  to  acquire  all  the  education  within 
his  reach.  But  working  on  the  farm  in  the  summer  time, 
and  attending  school  in  the  winter,  made  progress  rather 
slow  for  one  who  had  an  ambition  to  be  a  schoolteacher. 
He  attended  the  Findlay  high  school  until  he  was  per- 
mitted to  teach  school.  After  a  number  of  terms  in  this 
occupation,  he  had  saved  money  enough  to  purchase  a 
hardware  store  in  Dunkirk,  Ohio.  He  became  a  leader  in 
his  line  of  trade,  and  did  well  until  his  health  failed  him. 

In  1866  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  J.  Roda- 
baugh  and  to  them  four  children  were  born. 

His  childhood  was  marked  with  deep  religious  impres- 
sions. He  often  said,  before  his  teens  we're  reached, 
"  When  I  am  a  man  I  am  going  to  be  a  preacher."  When 
nineteen  years  old,  he,  with  other  members  of  the  family, 
attended  a  love  feast  in  Allen  County,  Ohio.  At  the  clos- 
ing service,  being  deeply  wrought  upon,  he  arose,  con- 
fessing Christ,  and  asked  for  baptism  before  his  return 
home  that  day.  He  had  an  inward  feeling  that  some  day 
he  would  be  called  to  the  ministry,  and  sought  to  pre- 
pare himself  beforehand.  After  his  call,  he  became  an 
effectual  worker  for  the  Master,  and  answered  many  calls 
for  preaching.  He  was  very  successful  as  an  evangelist. 
He  was  a  leader  in  General  Conference  year  by  year,  a 
strong  advocate  of  missions,  and  a  frequent  contributor 
to  the  church  publications.  His  name  appeared  in  the 
Brethren  at  Work  as  a  member  of  the  Tract  Association, 
organized  those  days  for  distribution  of  tracts  and  pam- 
phlets.   When  the  missionary  plan  of  1880  was  adopted  by 

288 


Plate    8 


Opposite    288 


Samuel   D.    Royer  Adam    Minnich  D.  S.  Filhrun 

A.    W.    Vaniman  Mrs.     Alice    Vaniman     W.    W.    Barnhart 

Mrs.    Harvey    F.    Sliirk     w.  B.  Stover  Mrs.   W.   B.   Stover 


Biographical 

Annual  Meeting,  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed and  by  it  made  Secretary,  which  place  he  filled 
during  the  four  years  of  its  existence.  He  was  also  a 
staunch  advocate  of  temperance,  and  in  different  places 
gave  lectures  on  that  subject. 

His  health  failed  him  in  the  prime  of  life,  the  illness  be- 
ing lingering  but  fatal.  On  his  dying  bed  he  said  to  his 
mother,  "  I  am  glad  that  I  am  prepared  to  die."  He 
passed  to  the  better  land  on  October  15,  1886. 


J.  HOMER  BRIGHT 

Missionary  to  China,  1911 

To  John  Calvin  and  Elizabeth  (Heistand)  Bright,  ear- 
nest members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  living  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  there  was  born  on  September  28,  1880,  a 
son  whom  they  called  J.  Homer,  the  first  of  four  sons 
and  four  daughters.  A  pious  home  with  proper  impres- 
sions constantly  bearing  upon  him,  a  goodly  community 
with  splendid  influences,  a  country  school  with  good 
teachings, — these  were  the  surroundings  in  the  midst  of 
which  J.  Homer  came  to  his  manhood.  His  desire  to 
have  a  better  educatioji  took  him  to  Juniata  College, 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  in  1895;  the  next  year  he 
taught;  then  returned  to  Juniata  and  completed  the  Teach- 
er's Course  in  1899.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  a 
number  of  years. 

Homer  was  united  in  marriage  in  May,  1904,  to  Minnie, 
youngest  daughter  of  John  Flory,  of  Union,  Ohio.  To 
them  have  been  born  three  children. 

From  childhood  Homer  was  responsive  to  the  Religious 
influences  about  him.  He  recalls  when,  in  1886,  the  Sun- 
day-school was  first  started  in  the  Wolf  Creek  congrega- 
tion of  So.uthern  Ohio.  At  first  the  school  had  no  class 
adapted  to  one  as  young  as  he,  but  he  attended  at  any 
rate.  At  fourteen,  when  Lewis  W.  Teeter  was  holding 
a  series  of  meetings  in  the  home  congregation,  Homer 

289 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren by  baptism  administered  by  George  Erbaugh.  This 
opened  new  fields  for  service  into  which  he  went,  and  the 
Sunday-school,  in  various  capacities,  at  once  received  the 
benefit  of  his  labors.  On  August  27,  1901,  the  same  con- 
gregation called  him  to  the  ministry.  Later,  in  1905,  in 
the  Salem  congregation,  he  was  advanced  to  the  second 
degree.  Through  the  influence  of  his  wife,  as  well  as  the 
longing  within  himself,  he  determined  to  have  a  better 
knowledge  of  the  Bible.  He  attended  Bethany  Bible 
School,  Chicago,  and  was  a  member  of  the  first  class  com- 
pleting the  three  years'  course,  in  the  year  1911.  During 
this  training  he  and  his  wife  saw  the  need  of  the  world 
and  answered  the  call  to  China.  Before  sailing,  on  Sep- 
tember 15,  1911,  he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  through 
the  laying  on  of  hands  by  I.  Bennett  Trout  and  J.  H. 
Moore.  He  and  his  family  are  located  at  Liao  Chou  in 
the  Shansi  Province,  doing  good  work  for  the  Master. 


MRS.  J.   HOMER  BRIGHT,  NEE  MINNIE  FLORY 

Missionary  to  China,  1911 

John  and  Millie  Flory  are  well-to-do  farmers,  living  near 
Union,  Ohio.  Theirs  has  been  a  Christian  home  and 
blessed  by  the  Father.  Among  these  blessings  are  four 
sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  the  youngest  is  Minnie, 
born  on  December  21,  1880.  She  grew  to  womanhood  on 
the  farm;  enjoyed  its  refreshing  and  healthful  exercise; 
attended  the  country  school,  and  eagerly  acquired  such 
training  as  was  within  her  reach.  One  year  was  spent 
in  high  school,  and  the  school  year  of  1899  and  a  part  of 
1900,  at  Manchester  College,  North  Manchester,  Ind.,  were 
especially  devoted  to  Bible  study.  This  made  up  the  total 
of  her  school-days, — all  too  short  for  her.  Later  she  fin- 
ished, by  correspondence,  two  courses  in  Bible  study, — 
one  under  E.  S.  Young,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  and  one  under 
C.  I.  Scofield,  of  New  York. 

290 


Biographical 

May,  1904,  she  united  her  life  with  J.  Homer  Bright, 
and  has  ably  seconded  his  eflforts  ever  since.  To  them 
have  been  born  three  daughters. 

Her  early  impressions  of  a  religious  life  could  not  have 
been  better.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  she  confessed  Christ 
during  a  series  of  meetings  held  in  the  Salem  congrega- 
tion by  I.  Bennett  Trout,  and  was  baptized  by  him.  As 
opportunity  came,  she  became  a  willing  and  effectual 
worker  in  Sunday-school  and  church,  wherever  called 
upon  to  serve.  In  1902  she  engaged  in  mission  work  in 
Sidney,  Ohio,  and  rejoiced  in  that  effort.  In  1903  she 
spent  some  time  in  similar  duty  in  Chicago.  Though  to 
many  it  may  seem  difficult  to  go  into  heathen  lands  with 
little  children,  to  Minnie  it  was  a  joy  to  serve  the  Lord 
in  that  far-away  land,  and  she  trusts  her  all  to  him  whom 
she  serves.  She  is  with  her  husband  at  Liao  Chou,  Shansi, 
China. 


CHARLES  H.  BRUBAKER 

Missionary  to  India,  1906  to  1910 

John  Brubaker  was  born  near  Salem,  Virginia;  his  wife, 
Mary  Neff,  in  Franklin  County,  the  same  State.  Both 
came  from  families  marked  for  their  devotion  to  their 
Lord.  To  them  were  given  eleven  children,  the  tenth 
being  Charles  H.,  born  on  August  25,  1873,  while  the 
family  was  living  near  Virden,  Illinois.  Charles'  school- 
days at  Virden,  Illinois,  were  uneventful.  He  was  timid, 
but  fully  applied  himself  and  made  commendable  prog- 
ress. As  he  approached  manhood,  he  determined  to  be 
a  schoolteacher,  and,  better  to  prepare  himself,  he  at- 
tended Illinois  State  Normal.  In  1896  he  Went  to  Cali- 
fornia, taught  two  years  at  Santa  Barbara,  and  then  en- 
tered the  State  University  at  Berkeley,  California,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  in  1906.  He  spent  some 
time  in  business,  and  finally  gave  up  all  his  ambitions 
to  serve  the  Lord  in  heathen  lands. 

291 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

September  4,  1907,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ella, 
daughter  of  John  R.  Miller,  of  Nappanee,  Indiana,  who 
went  to  India  on  the  same  boat  he  did.  The  wedding 
was  at  Vada,  India.  To  them  the  Lord  gave  two  daugh- 
ters. 

The  piety  of  Charles'  home  is  reflected  in  the  fact  that 
all  the  eleven  children  accepted  Christ,  and  a  number  of 
them  are  serving  the  church  in  some  official  capacity. 
Charles  accepted  Christ  when  thirteen  years  old,  and  was 
received  into  membership  in  the  Pleasant  Hill  congre- 
gation. As  he  grew  older,  he  served  at  different  times  in 
every  capacity  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  was  faithful 
therein.  While  at  school,  though  not  forward,  he  was 
gently  persistent  in  working  among  the  young  people  for 
the  Lord.  In  1899  the  Los  Angeles  congregation,  of 
Southern  California,  called  him  to  the  ministry. 

In  1906  he  responded  to  the  call  for  workers  in  India 
and  entered  upon  his  work  that  same  year.  After  acquir- 
ing the  language,  he  was  located  at  Vada  and  was  making 
good  progress, — getting  next  to  the  people  and  holding 
their  confidence.  In  September,  1910,  he  had  a  stubborn 
fever;  early  in  October  he  and  his  wife  concluded  to  go 
to  Landour,  in  the  foothills  of  the  Himalayas,  about  nine 
hundred  miles  from  his  station.  I.  S.  Long  and  wife 
went  with  them.  Little  fears  were  entertained  until,  when 
it  was  too  late,  it  was  discovered  that  he  had  enteric  fever 
in  a  virulent  form.  Tender  care  and  medical  attention 
availed  not.  He  was  anointed  and  grew  better,  only  to 
relapse  and  pass  away  on  October  20,  1910.  His  body 
lies  at  rest  with  many  missionaries  of  other  organizations, 
who  have  passed  over  from  India  to  the  better  world. 
Charles  was  the  first  of  the  workers  for  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  to  go  from  a  foreign  field  to  the  blessed  rest 
beyond. 


292 


Biographical 

MRS.  CHAS.   H.  BRUBAKER,  NEE  ELLA  MILLER 
Missionary  to  India,  1906  to  1911 

John  R.  and  Rachel  Miller  have  long  lived  on  the  farrn 
a  few  miles  north  of  Nappanee,  Indiana,  where  they  have 
reared  their  family  of  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  Ella, 
their  fourth  child,  was  always  sunny  and  cheerful  in  the 
home.  She  was  not  crowded  in  school  and  yet,  in  order 
to  secure  the  education  she  desired,  spent  four  years  at 
Manchester  College,  North  Manchester,  Indiana,  working 
on  literary.  Biblical  and  musical  courses.  She  taught 
music  for  several  years,  then  took  up  further  school  work 
at  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois.  During  this 
period  of  life  she  completed  a  course  in  Literature,  the 
Bible  and  Music. 

On  September  4,  1904,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Charles  H.  Brubaker,  at  Vada,  India.  To  them  have  been 
given   two   daughters. 

In  early  life  Ella  confessed  Christ  while  attending  a 
series  of  meetings  in  the  Union  Center  congregation  of 
Northern  Indiana,  conducted  by  Bro.  I.  D.  Parker,  in 
December,  1893,  and  by  him  was  baptized.  She  was  active 
in  church  work,  giving  her  energies,  for  a  time,  to  the 
cause  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  South  Bend,  Indiana,  and  the  South 
Side  mission  in  Chicago.  It  was  while  at  Mt.  Morris 
that  she  answered  the  call  to  India.  When  her  husband 
sickened  and  died,  on  October  20,  1910,  she  endured  the 
bereavement  with  remarkable  fortitude,  and  only  re- 
turned hon>e  for  health  considerations.  Since  home,  she 
lived  with  her  parents  and  spent  some  time  in  Chicago, 
at    Bethany    Bible    School. 

DANIEL   E.   BRUBAKER 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1880-1884 

Joseph  Brubaker,  a  man  of  German  lineage,  and  his 
wife,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Samuel  Harshbarger,  also 
of  German  descent,  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren in  Roanoke  County,  Virginia,  where  they  were  then 

293 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

living.  Joseph  was  called  to  the  deacon's  office  and  seCved 
the  church  well  and  long.  About  1836  the  family  moved 
to  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  where,  on  March  26, 
1841,  Daniel,  their  ninth  child  of  a  family  of  five  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  was  born.  The  opportunities  for  common 
school  education  were  not  very  good,  and  this,  with  the 
need  of  his  labors  to  help  in  making  a  living  for  the  fam- 
ily, kept  him  from  some  of  the  schooling  he  might  other- 
wise have  had.  He  had  a  thirst  for  knowledge,  however, 
and  read  and  studied  at  home,  so  that  it  can  be  justly  said 
of  him  that  he  learned  more  at  home  than  in  school.  His 
father  moved  to  Story  Co.unty,  Iowa.  Later  Daniel  moved 
to  Ogle  County,  Illinois.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  stayed 
by  it  until  age  compelled  him  to  retire.  He  now  resides 
in  Mount  Morris,  Illinois. 

On  May  3,  1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to.  Mary, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Harriet  Funk.  To  them  were  born 
three  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  wife  died  October 
4,  1906.  October  28,  1908,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sister  Mary  Barnhizer. 

In  Story  County,  Iowa,  Daniel  confessed  Christ,  and  was 
baptized  by  Henry  Flora  in  the  summer  of  1858,  thus  unit- 
ing with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Soon  after  he  moved 
to  the  Pine  Creek  congregation,  of  Northern  Illinois, 
where,  in  1865,  he  was  called  to  the  deacon's  office.  In 
1866  he  was  elected  to  the  ministry,  in  1872  advanced  to 
the  second  degree,  and  in  the  fall  of  1876,  in  the  Indian 
Creek  congregation,  Iowa,  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by 
Bishops  George  Baker  and  John  Murry. 

Brother  Brubaker  was  a  worker  in  whom  the  church  had 
confidence.  He  had  the  oversight  of  a  number  of  congre- 
gations, served  as  an  officer  of  his  District  Meeting  twice, 
and  represented  his  District  on  the  Standing  Committee 
once.  In  1880  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Domestic 
and  Foreign  Mission  Board, — the  first  organization  by 
Annual  Meeting, — and  served  until  the  new  organization 
in  1884.  By  this  new  Board  he  was  sent  to  Washington 
and  Idaho,  in  1887,  on  a  mission  tour,  and  in  1891  and  '92 
was  sent  on  similar  work  into  Canada. 

294 


Biographical 

ORA  G.  BRUBAKER,  M.  D. 
Missionary  to  China,  1913 

George  Brubaker  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio.  He 
located  in  Howard  County,  Indiana,  about  1847,  when  that 
country  was  still  a  wilderness.  On  June  3,  1860,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Hiel  Hamilton, 
of  Carroll  County,  Indiana.  This  was  his  second  marriage. 
Shortly  afterwards  both  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  and  they  have  served  the  Howard  County  con- 
gregation, in  the  office  of  deacon,  to  which  they  were 
soon  called,  long  and  well.  To  them  were  born  three  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Ora  G.,  born  on  May  11,  1875,  on  a 
farm  about  eleven  miles  from  a  railroad,  in  Howard 
County,  where  the  family  still  resides,  is  their  youngest 
child.  He  enjoyed  the  pious  influence  of  his  godly  par- 
ents. When  old  enough,  he  attended  school  at  the  country 
cross  roads  school  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  after 
which  he  spent  one  year  in  the  New  London  High  School, 
an  institution  conducted  by  the  Friends.  In  the  fall  of 
1894  he  entered  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois, 
and  completed  the  Classical  and  Latin  Scientific  Courses 
with  the  class  of  1899.  He  turned  his  attention  to  school- 
teaching  till  1902,  at  which  time  he  entered  Rush  Medical 
College,  of  Chicago.  From  this  institution  he  graduated 
in  1906,  did  one  year  of  dispensary  work  and  located  in 
Mt.  Morris,  Illinois.  In  1909  he  changed  his  location  to 
Burlington,  Indiana,  whete  he  has  built  up  a  lucrative 
town  and  country  practice  in  the  community  where  he  was 
raised,  and  where  his  relatives  live.  It  is  this,  in  part, 
that  he  gives  up  for  service  in  China. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  on  September  4,  1900,  to 
Alice  Mae,  daughter  of  Joseph  Stitzel,  of  Lanark,  Illinois. 
Three  children  were  given  them.  The  wife  unexpectedly 
passed  to  the  better  land  on  March  17,  1904.  The  grand- 
mother is  caring  for  the  two  living  children.  On  July 
26,  1905,  he  was  married  to  Cora  Mae,  daughter  of  George 
W.  Cripe,  and  by  this  union  two  children  have  been  born. 
These  accompany  the  parents  to  China. 

295 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Not  until  Ora  was  twelve  years  old,  did  he  begin  to 
attend  Sunday-school;  but  he  has  been  active  ever  since. 
While  at  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  Ora  confessed  Christ  dur- 
ing a  series  of  meetings,  conducted  by  I.  Bennett  Trout, 
in  1894,  and  with  four  others  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  by  baptism  administered  by  Galen  B.  Royer. 
Since  that  date  he  has  been  an  active  Sunday-school  work- 
er, most  of  the  time  being  either  teacher  or  superintend- 
ent. He  has  served  on  a  number  of  local  committees  in 
general  church  work,  relating  to  the  union  Christian  Work- 
ers' movement.  He  hopes  to  make  China  his  home  and 
to  serve  the  Lord  by  healing  both  body  and  soul  in  that 
great  and  needy  field. 


MRS.  ORA  G.  BRUBAKER,  NEE  CORA  CRIPE 
Missionary  to  China,  1913 

George  W.  Cripe  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  on 
May  23,  1833.  His  parents  died  before  he  grew  to 
manhood.  Barbara  Shively,  who  became  his  wife  on 
Christmas  Day,  1852,  was  a  fine  young  woman.  Her  fa- 
ther was  dead,  and  she  was  working  out  by  the  week  for 
a  living.  Both  were  poor,  married  early,  confessed  Christ 
later  in  life,  sacrificed  much  for  the  Master,  and  left  a 
goodly  heritage  to  their  children  who  survive  them.  God 
gave  them  "  a  full  quiver," — four  sons  and  eight  daugh- 
ters. Cora,  being  the  youngest,  was  born  March  19,  1877, 
at  the  farm  nine  miles  east  of  La  Fayette,  Indiana. 

When  Cora  was  eight  years  old,  the  family  located  in 
Cerro  Gordo,  Illinois.  She  entered  public  school,  studied 
diligently,  and  in  the  spring  of  1893,  when  sixteen  years 
old,  graduated  from  the  high  school.  She  had  intended 
to  be  a  schoolteacher,  but,  attracted  by  the  work  Sister 
Alice  J.  Boone  was  doing  in  Chicago,  she  spent  nine  weeks 
of  the  winter  of  1893  in  missions  there.  This  changed 
the  plan  of  her  life  entirely  and  from  now  on  her  activ- 
ities were  directly  for  the  Lord. 

296 


Biographical 

In  the  mission  rooms  of  Chicago,  made  precious  by 
living,  prayer,  and  struggling  for  o.thers,  she  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Dr.  O.  G.  Brubaker.  God  has  given  them 
one  son  and  one  daughter. 

Her  early  impressions  of  religious  duty  go  back  to  her 
infancy.  Before  she  was  born,  her  father  organized  the 
first  Sunday-school  in  the  Fairview  congregation  of  In- 
diana. She  knew  nothing  in  her  childhood  but  to  be 
packed  into  a  wagon  and  hauled  of?  to  Sunday-school,  and 
she  delighted  to  go,  too.  At  twelve,  while  attending  a 
series  of  meetings  in  Cerro  Gordo,  Illinois,  conducted  by 
C.  W.  Teeter,  of  Ohio,  she  confessed  Christ  and,  with 
an  older  sister  and  several  others,  was  baptized  one 
wintry  day  by  D.  B.  Troxel.  A  new  life,  indeed,  was 
now  begun.  Her  interest  in  Sunday-school  deepened. 
She  delighted  to  listen  to  the  aged  brethren  who  came 
to  visit  in  the  home,  to  talk  about  the  church  with  her 
father.  After  spending  a  short  time  in  the  Chicago  mis- 
sion, she  arranged  to  return  to  that  work,  and  spend  ten 
years  in  the  service  there.  After  those  arduous  labors,  the 
rest  in  the  quiet  of  a  home  of  her  own,  after  marriage,  was 
so  sweet  that  the  call  to  the  foreign  field,  at  that  time, 
was  not  heeded.  But  she  was  not  at  ease  and  last  winter, 
when  the  Lord  called  loudly,  through  the  death  of  Brother 
Ileckman,  of  China,  she  answered  by  joining  her  husband 
in  oflfering  themselves  to  China.  She  enters  her  chosen 
field  with  a  large  home  experience  behind  her,  to  do  her 
best  for  her  Master  there. 


IDA    BUCKINGHAM 

Missionary  to  Sweden,  1913 

In  Macon  County,  Illinois,  near  the  village  of  Oakley, 
have  been  living,  on  the  same  farm  since  their  marriage, 
David  and  Susie  (Wagoner)  Buckingham.  Early  in  life 
both  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  and  Brother 
David  has  been,  for  many  years,  a  faithful  and  active 

297 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

deacon.  Into  their  home  on  August  7,  1886,  was  born  a 
daughter  whom  they  named  Ida, — the  fourth  in  a  family 
of  five  daughters.  Ida  has  grown  up  in  the  religious  at- 
mosphere of  her  home,  and  amidst  its  healthy  physical 
surroundings.  She  attended  common  schools  until  1904, 
when  she  entered  Mt.  Morris  College  for  one  year,  and 
then  completed  the  Academic  Course  in  the  year  1907- 
1908.  She  taught  common  school  three  years  in  Macon 
County,  Illinois,  and,  entering  Bethany  Bible  School,  in 
1910,  graduated  from  the  three  years'  Bible  Course  pre- 
scribed there. 

In  the  fall  of  1900,  while  Bro.  A.  G.  Crosswhite  was  con- 
ducting a  series  of  meetings  in  the  Oakley  congregation, 
Ida  confessed  Christ  and  through  baptism  by  Brother 
Crosswhite  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  She 
soon  became  a  Sunday-school  teacher,  and  has  been  active 
along  religious  lines  ever  since. 

She  expects  to  sail  sometime  during  the  fall  of  1913, 
to  Sweden,  where  she  will  assist  Brother  and  Sister  Gray- 
bill  in  their  work, 


A.  RAYMOND  COTTRELL,  M.  D. 

Missionary  to  India,  1913 

Eli  M.  Cottrell,  born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio^  later  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  near  Pyrmont,  Indiana.  Here  he  met 
and  married  Catherine  Wagoner  Blickenstaflf.  Both  are 
of  "  Pennsylvania  Dutch  "  stock,  members  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  and  pious  people  who  sought  to  do  the 
will  of  the  Lord.  To  them  was  born  on  March  21,  1884, 
a  son  whom  they  called  Asher  Raymond.  He  is  the 
fourth  child  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Raymond  attended  school  in  Pyrmont,  Indiana,  until 
through  the  fourth  grade.  His  father  having  moved  to 
North  Manchester  in  1895,  Raymond  had  better  school 
facilities  offered  him,  and  he  made  use  of  them  eagerly. 
In  a  creditable  manner  he  completed  the  grades,  then  the 

298 


Biographical 

North  Manchester  high  school  in  1903.  He  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Brethren  Publishing  House,  working  in 
the  business  and  proofreading  departments  from  Novem- 
ber, 1904,  to  September,  1907.  He  spent  the  school  year 
of  1907  and  '08  in  Bethany  Bible  School  of  Chicago;  then 
two  years  in  the  American  Medical  Missionary  College 
at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan;  two  years  more  in  the  College 
of  Medicine,  University  of  Illinois,  where,  in  June,  1912, 
he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  While  he  had  some  flat- 
tering offers  to  remain  in  America  Raymond  declined 
them  all,  in  order  to  prepare  himself  for  the  missicn  field. 
He  accepted  a  position  in  the  Deaconess  Hospital,  Spo- 
kane, Washington,  as  an  interne,  being  house  physician 
there  during  1912-13. 

On  August  8,  1906,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Laura 
Murphy,  and  together  they  have  been  pushing  through 
college. 

The  spiritual  impress  of  the  home,  along  with  the  sanc- 
tuary to  which  place  the  parents  took  their  children  reg- 
ularly, made  a  lasting  impression  upon  Raymond.  At  the 
tender  age  of  eleven,  while  Isaac  Frantz  was  holding  a 
series  of  meetings  at  Pyrmont,  Indiana,  in  the  spring  of 
1895,  Raymond  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  He  served  as  teacher  and  offi- 
cer in  the  Sunday-schools  where  he  lived;  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Christian  Workers'  Society  in  Elgin,  Illinois, 
one  term.  He  was  president  of  the  College  Student  Vol- 
unteer Band  at  the  University  of  Illinois  for  one  year. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  has  observed  the  "  tithe  holy 
unto  the  Lord."  He  rendered  it  to  him  cheerfully,  and  has 
found  many  rich  blessings  by  doing  so. 

Thus  equipped,  Raymond  is  ready  to  sail  to  India  in 
the  fall  of  1913,  to  render  such  service  as  his  skilled  hand 
may  be  able  to  give  to  the  many  needy  ones  in  that  sin- 
darkened  land. 


299 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

MRS.  A.  RAYMOND  COTTRELL,  M.  D.,  NEE  LAURA 

M.  MURPHY 

Missionary  to  India,  1913 

In  Greenville,  Ohio,  on  October  1,  1881,  a  daughter, 
afterwards  called  Laura,  was  born  into  the  home  of  A.  J. 
and  Mary  (Coates)  Murphy.  The  father  was  a  paper 
hanger  by  trade,  and  the  mother  a  nurse.  Laura  is  the 
oldest  child  in  the  family  and  has  two  brothers.  When 
six  years  old,  the  father  died,  leaving  the  mother  in  lim- 
ited circumstances  to  provide  for  her  children.  Laura 
attended  public  school  in  Greenville  and  graduated  from 
the  high  school  in  1899.  She  attended  one  normal  term 
at  Manchester  College,  North  Manchester,  Indiana;  then 
taught  country  school  four  years  in  Darke  County,  Ohio. 
In  September,  1904,  she  entered  the  employ  of  the  Breth- 
en  Publishing  House,  reading  proof  for  two  and  one- 
half  years.  She  was  an  assistant  in  the  Sunday-school 
department  for  six  months.  During  1907-08  she  at- 
tended Bethany  Bible  School  and  the  following  fall  began 
her  medical  training  as  follows:  American  Medical  Mis- 
sionary College,  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  two  years;  Col- 
lege of  Medicine,  University  of  Illinois,  Chicago,  two 
years,  graduating  June  4,  1912,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
She  was,  for  three  months,  on  the  medical  staflf  at  Battle 
Creek  Sanitarium,  Michigan;  eight  months  house  physi- 
cian at  the  Deaconess  Hospital,  Spokane,  Washington. 

On  August  8,  1906,  Laura  was  united  in  marriage  to  A. 
Raymond  Cottrell,  and  has  sought  to  second  his  labors 
faithfully  ever  since. 

In  Greenville,  Ohio,  Laura  confessed  Christ  and  was 
baptized  on  February  2,  1896,  by  Levi  H.  Eby.  This  in- 
tensified her  religious  purposes  greatly,  and  she  became 
an  effectual  worker  in  the  Sunday-school  and  Christian 
Workers'  Meetings.  Though  busy  in  her  school  work, 
she  was  ever  ready  to  do  for  others  what  her  hands  could 
do,  and  looks  forward  with  bright  hopes  of  being  used 

300 


Biographical 

by  the  Lord  in  helping  to  relieve  the  suffering,  and  point 
the  sufferers  to  her  Lord  and  Master,  after  she  reaches 
India  in  the  fall  of  1913. 


WINNIE  CRIPE 
Missionary  to  China,  1911 

On  a  farm  near  North  Liberty,  St.  Joseph  County,  Indi- 
ana, on  September  13,  1884,  Winnie,  the  fourth  child  in  a 
family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  was  born.  Her 
father,  Jonathan  Cripe,  was  an  able  bishop  in  the  Church 
of  th»  Brethren;  her  mother,  Mary  Ellen,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  David  Rupel,  another  bishop  in  the  District.  Be- 
fore Winnie  was  four  years  old,  her  mother  died.  After- 
wards Ella  Buzzard  took  up  the  duties  of  the  home  and 
became  a  good  Christian  mother  to  the  family  of  children. 
Winnie  had  the  advantages  of  a  good  public  school  edu- 
cation, and  finished  the  eighth  grade  in  1900.  Conditions 
in  the  home  were  such,  however,  that  she  could  not  go 
away  to  school  until  after  the  death  of  her  father,  in  1907. 
She  came  to  Bethany  Bible  School,  in  Chicago,  in  1908, 
craving  to  know  more  of  God  and  his  Word,  and  delight- 
ing in  the  privileges  she  found  there. 

While  a  series  of  meetings,  conducted  by  D.  H.  Weaver, 
was  in  progress  in  the  Pine  Creek  congregation,  Winnie 
confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  baptism  being  administered  by  Brother  Wea- 
ver April  24,  1895.  When  fifteen,  she  began  to  teach  a 
Sunday-school  and  either  this  or  superintending  the  pri- 
mary department  of  a  Sunday-school  has  been  her  lot 
and  pleasure  ever  since.  She  especially  delighted  in  teach- 
ing the  Chinese  in  the  Sunday-school,  conducted  in  con- 
nection with  the  Bethany  Bible  School  work.  Since  in 
China  she  is  located  at  Liao  Chou,  Shansi  Province,  and 
is  engaged  in  visiting  homes,  helping  in  opium  refuge 
work,  teaching  music  in  the  Boys'  School,  and  doing  such 
other  duties  as  come  within  her  reach. 

301 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

FRANKLIN  H.  CRUMPACKER 
Missionary  to  China,  1906 

The  Crumpackers  are  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock, 
moved  to  Missouri,  and  settled  vi^ithin  the  bounds  of  the 
Mineral  Creek  congregation,  and  here  on  May  13,  1876, 
was  born  Franklin  Henry,  the  sixth  child  in  a  family  of 
eight  sons.  In  childhood  Frank  was  not  rugged  and  so 
life  on  the  farm  was  much  in  his  favor.  In  the  country 
school  he  was  an  average  student;  on  the  playground  he 
was  active  and  delighted.  As  he  approached  manhood, 
a  keen  desire  for  knowledge  possessed  him,  and  in  1895 
he  entered  the  Normal  College  at  Fort  Scott,  Kansas,  and 
continued  three  winters.  Then,  teaching  school  till  1900, 
he  entered  McPherson  College  and  in  the  next  six  years 
completed  the  Normal  and  English  Bible  Courses,  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  the  class  of  1906. 

He  chose  Anna  L.  Newland  as  his  life  companion,  and 
they  were  united  in  marriage  on  September  29,  1905.  She 
has  been  a  true  helpmeet  to  him  in  his  work  for  the  Lord. 
To  them  has  been  born  one  son. 

Religious  truth  was  carefully  taught  Frank  and  his 
brothers  in  rather  a  unique  way.  The  father  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Old  Order  Brethren.  It  was  his  habit  to  gather 
his  sons  about  him,  at  the  proper  time,  and  propound  and 
discuss  with  them  different  religious  problems.  In  this 
way  the  father  taught  his  sons  Bible  knowledge,  and  im- 
planted such  devotion  to  the  Word  of  God  that,  in  after- 
years,  five  of  the  eight  sons  were  called  to  the  ministry. 
When  nineteen,  Frank  confessed  Christ  and  united  with 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Mineral  Creek  congre- 
gation, Missouri,  Brother  Click  administering  baptism. 
While  engaged  in  business  in  Redfield,  Kansas,  he  was 
using  all  his  spare  time  with  C.  S.  Garber  in  church  work, 
and  the  Paint  Creek  congregation,  recognizing  his  ability, 
called  him  to  the  ministry  in  1898.  Four  years  later  Mc- 
Pherson congregation  advanced  him  to  the  second  degree, 
and  in  September,  1907,  he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric. 

302 


Biographical 

During  his  college  days  Frank  became  interested  in  mis- 
sions. He  addressed  audiences  in  many  churches  in  the 
West  on  the  subject.  His  chosen  field  was  China,  and  the 
Conference  of  1906  accepted  him  as  a  missionary  to  that 
field.  He  was  not  permitted  to  sail  till  1908.  In  the  mean- 
time he  was  ou*t  holding  evangelistic  meetings,  winning 
souls  for  Christ,  and  developing  missionary  sentiment  for 
China. 

After  acquiring  the  language  in  China,  he  settled  down 
to  open  the  first  mission  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
at  Ping  Ting  Chou,  in  the  Shansi  Province.  Here  he  has 
labored  for  five  years,  part  of  the  time  the  only  white  man 
at  the  station.  During  the  revolution  he  was  compelled 
to  go  to  the  coast  for  safety,  but  long  before  the  author- 
ities thought  it  safe  to  return  to  the  interior,  he  was  back 
at  the  station,  looking  after  the  work.  During  1913,  along 
with  his  regular  duties,  he  superintended  the  erection  of 
a  $5,000  building  for  a  boys'  Orphanage  School.  He  hopes 
great  things  for  China,  is  untiring  in  his  efforts,  and  the 
Lord  is  blessing  his  labors. 


MRS.  FRANKLIN  H.  CRUMPACKER,  NEE  ANNA 

NEWLAND 

Missionary  to  China,  1908 

Joseph  D.  Newland  was  reared  on  a  farm  near  Stanford, 
Kentucky.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to.  Marion  Coun- 
ty, Kansas.  Here  he  met  Emma  Thomas,  a  young  woman 
from  Lee  County,  Illinois,  who  became  his  wife  on  Janu- 
ary 13,  1880.  To  them  were  given  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  Anna,  the  second,  being  born  on  September 
29,  1882.  Anna  started  to  school  when  five  years  old  and 
enjoyed  its  atmosphere,  for  she  always  had  a  keen  desire 
for  an  education.  At  seven  the  family  moved  to  Wichi- 
ta, Kansas,  where  educational  advantages  were  better. 
Five  years  later  they  located  at  Carlisle,  Arkansas,  and 
the  next  year  at  Conway  Springs,  Kansas.    Here  she  had 

303 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

her  best  opportunities  for  an  education.  Her  parents, 
though  in  limited  circumstances,  kept  Anna  in  school  until 
seventeen  years  old.  Then  she  began  to  teach  and  make 
her  own  way.  She  pressed  on  until,  in  1901,  she  entered 
McPherson  College  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1906, 
having  completed  the  English  Bible  and  one  of  the  Col- 
legiate Courses.  These  were  not  easy  days  for  her.  She 
worked  in  the  kitchen,  taught  classes,  was  matron,  and 
during  vacations  canvassed  for  stereoscopic  views,  in  or- 
der to  make  money  to  go  through  school. 

On  September  29,  1905,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Franklin  H.  Crumpacker  and  to  them  has  been  given  one 
son. 

Anna's  mother  confessed  Christ  at  twelve,  was  a  Sun- 
day-school worker  and  sought  to  instill  proper  principles 
into  her  children.  Anna  had  the  privilege  of  a  union  Sun- 
day-school when  young.  At  eleven  she  longed  to  confess 
Christ  but  did  not  know  how,  and  was  too  timid  to  reveal 
her  desires.  While  the  family  was  living  in  Carlisle, 
Arkansas,  D.  L.  Forney  conducted  a  series  of  meetings, 
and  it  was  then  that  Anna  made  the  good  confession,  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  C.  E.  Delp  bap- 
tizing her  in  October,  1895.  Brother  Forney  loaned 
her  books  of  the  Missionary  Reading  Circle,  and  these 
stirred  her  spiritual  self  to  desire  to.  be  a  missionary. 
While  in  school,  she  conducted  mission  study  classes, 
taught  a  Bible  class,  was  active  in  the  Volunteer  Band 
and  ever  ready  to  help  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

As  special  preparation  for  China  she  spent  some  time 
in  dispensary  work  in  Chicago.  She  is,  with  her  husband, 
at  Ping  Ting  Chou,  Shansi  Province,  being  a  splendid 
helper  in  the  mission,  and  an  undaunted  support  to  her 
husband's  labors. 


304 


Plate    9 


Opposite    304 


Ehza    B.    Miller  D.    L.    Forney  Mrs.    D.    L.    Forney 

Adam   Ebey  Mrs.   Adam   Ebey      G.    J.    Fercken 

Mrs.    G.    J.    Fercken      S.     N.     McCann         Mrs.    S     N     McCann 


Biographical 

HENRY  C.  EARLY 
Member  General  Mission  Board,  1901 

To  Noah  Early,  of  splendid  German  descent,  and  Sarah 
Kidd  Early,  his  wife,  of  equally  good  English  descent,  was 
born  on  May  11,  1855,  in  Augusta  County,  Virginia,  Henry 
C,  their  oldest  child  of  a  family  of  four  sons  and  five 
daughters.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  has  chosen  to  remain  by 
the  farm  and  enjoy  its  free  and  healthful  life.  This, 
however,  did  not  keep  him  from  mind  development  and 
heart  culture.  In  the  home  his  godly  father  and  mother 
exerted  a  great  influence  over  his  young  mind  and  heart, 
and  laid  the  foundation  for  usefulness.  This  was  well 
supplemented  by  training  in  the  public  school,  and  two 
terms  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  Normal  School,  at 
Bridgewater,  Virginia.  He  engaged  fn  teaching  public 
school  between  the  years  1874  and  '83,  teaching  his  first 
term  in  the  Limestone  schoolhouse,  near  Mt.  Sidney,  Au- 
gusta County,  Virginia.  While  he  retired  from  the  work 
of  the  farm  in  1901,  his  interests,  financially,  have  still 
been   there   since. 

On  May  25,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Showalter, 
and  by  this  union  God  blessed  them  with  one  son  and  five 
daughters. 

The  more  interesting  phase  of  his  life  is  his  religious 
activities.  When  twenty-one  years  old,  he  united  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  A.  D.  Garber  baptizing  him  on 
December  12,  1876.  The  strength  of  his  young  manhood 
was  thrown  into  his  new-found  joy  in  Christ  Jesus.  He 
at  once  became  active  in  Sunday-school, — the  only  prac- 
tical avenue  open  to  him  at  the  time.  Here,  between 
1877  and  '85,  he  was  either  teacher  or  superintendent,  and 
his  work  soon  revealed  the  promise  of  a  useful  man  for 
the  church.  Hence  it  was  that,  on  October  6,  1880,  the 
Barren  Ridge  congregation  called  him  to  the  ministry,  and 
in  1883  advanced  him  to  the  second  degree.  The  Mill 
Creek  congregation  ordained  him  to  the  bishopric  in  Au- 
gust, 1898.    Soon  after  being  placed  in  the  second  degree, 

305 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

he  became  active  as  an  evangelist,  in  which  field  he  still 
delights  to  labor  as  opportunity  permits.  He  was  the 
chosen  bishop  of  the  Mill  Creek  congregation  between 
1902  and  1912,  and  won  the  love  and  esteem  of  the  con- 
gregation by  his  thoughtful,  energetic  manner  of  direct- 
ing affairs.  In  1912,  seeking  a  larger  field  of  service,  with 
opportunities  of  investigation  and  endeavor  that  a  con- 
gregation in  the  country  does  not  offer,  he  took  up  pas- 
toral work  in  the  Washington,  D,  C,  congregation,  but 
after  some  time  had  to  withdraw  because  of  some  diffi- 
culty with   his   eyes. 

He  has  been  a  useful  man  to  the  church  in  larger  cir- 
cles. Frequently  has  he  served  as  Moderator  of  his  Dis- 
trict Meeting.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Standing 
Committee  seven  times,  and  its  chosen  Moderator  four 
times.  In  these  capacities  his  service  has  been  most  ac- 
ceptable. When  the  General  Educational  Board  was  cre- 
ated, in  1908,  he  was  made  one  of  its  members,  and  by 
that  body  elected  as  its  Chairman.  In  this  capacity  he 
has  since  served,  and  has  been  the  moving  spirit  of  the 
good  work  accomplished  there.  He  was  Chairman  of  the 
"Dress  Committee,"  appointed  in  1910,  and  framed  the  pa- 
per that,  with  some  changes  by  the  Committee,  was  adopt- 
ed at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  Conference  in  1911,  and  since 
then  has  been  the  helpful  rule  of  the  church  on  a  question 
that  was  giving  her  deep  concern.  In  1912  he  became  a 
member  of  an  important  committee  to  which  is  committed 
"  the  whole  ministerial  question,  including  election,  qual- 
ification, instruction,  distribution  and  management."  In 
1903  he  became  corresponding  editor  of  the  Gospel  Mes- 
senger by  appointment  of  the  General  Mission  Board,  and 
his  strong  editorials  on  live  subjects  have  attracted  at- 
tention of  the  readers. 

The  Conference  of  1901  appointed  Bro.  Early  a  member 
of  the  General  Mission  Board,  in  which  position  he  has 
labored  since.  He  has  been  its  Vice-president  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  Board,  as 
is  seen  in  the  fact  that  three  times,  the  last  in  1913,  the 

306 


Biographical 

Board  recommended  his  name  to  the  Conference,  and  that 
the  latter  approved  his  appointment  to  visit  the  foreign 
fields. 


ADAM  EBEY 
Missionary  to  India,  1900 

Cornelius  and  Susan  Huff  Ebey  were  both  born  in  Ohio, 
and  while  young  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana.  Later 
they  were  married  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Wawaka, 
Indiana,  which  has  since  been  the  home  for  the  family. 
To  them  were  born  eight  sons  and  six  daughters.  Adam, 
the  fifth  child,  gladdened  the  home  of  his  parents  on  Au- 
gust 12,  1866,  after  the  four  older  children  had  died.  As 
soon  as  Adam  was  old  enough,  he  helped  his  mother 
to  take  care  of  her  family  of  children  and  since  his  fa- 
ther's death,  in  1890,  has  been  looked  upon  somewhat  as 
a  father  by  all  his  brothers  and  sisters.  Country  school 
education  and  then  two  years  at  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois,  made  up  his  training  till  1890.  He  then 
settled  at  home,  to  help  his  mother.  He  taught  for  sev- 
eral winters  until,  in  1896,  entering  Manchester  College, 
North  Manchester,  Indiana,  he  completed  the  Bible  Course 
in   1899. 

On  September  5,  1900,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Alice  King.  To  them  have  been  born,  in  India,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  five  of  whom  have  gone  to  be 
with  the  angels  in  glory. 

Adam's  home  environment  was  of  the  best.  The  fam- 
ily entertained  many  of  the  visiting  brethren  at  their 
home  and  Adam  enjoyed  this  influence.  Ea'rly  he  con- 
fessed Christ,  and  in  time  was  called  to  the  ministry  in 
the  Springfield  congregation.  He  was  ordained  to  the 
bishopric  in  India  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  by  W.  B. 
Stover  and  S.  N.  McCann.  In  the  fall  of  1900  he  sailed 
to  India,  where  he  has  labored  faithfully.  At  his  station, 
Dahanu,   he   is   conducting   an   extensive   medical   work. 

307 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

During  the  year  1912  he  had  9,718  new  cases  for  treatment. 
Nearly  4,000  of  these  came  back  the  second  and  third 
time.  About  half  of  them  were  visited  in  their  homes 
also.  But  Adam  did  not  go  out  as  a  medical  missionary! 
Besides,  he  is  directing  colporteurs,  Bible  women  and 
has  general  supervision  of  five  schools  in  educational 
work,  the  total  enrollment  of  these  being  220.  They 
spent  one  year  home  on  furlough,  in  1908,  and  were 
happy  to  return  to  their  fields  of  labor. 


MRS.  ADAM  EBEY,  NEE  ALICE  KING 
Missionary  to  India  in  1900 

Daniel  J.  and  Mary  Grisso  King  were  reared  in  Ohio, 
came  to  Indiana  as  young  people,  married,  and  were  liv- 
ing near  Laketon,  Indiana,  when,  on  November  11,  1871, 
Alice,  their  second  child,  was  born.  Their  family  of  chil- 
dren consisted  of  one  son  and  three  daughters.  At 
twelve,  the  family  moved  upon  a  small  tract  of  land  near 
North  Manchester,  Indiana,  where  the  father  engaged  in 
trucking  and  day's  labor  to  make  a  living.  Alice  made 
good  use  of  the  common  school  within  her  easy  reach; 
spent  two  years  in  the  North  Manchester  high  school, 
then  taught  two  winters,  and  spent  the  spring  terms  at 
Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois.  In  1893  she  com- 
pleted one  of  the  Academic  Courses  at  Mt.  Morris  Col- 
lege, taught  a  year,  returned  and  spent  one  year  in  the 
Bible  Department.  With  the  opening  of  Manchester  Col- 
lege, in  1895,  she  entered  and  completed  her  Bible  Course 
in  the  spring  of  1897,  was  assistant  teacher  in  the  Bible 
Department  for  two  years,  and  then  spent  one  year  on 
Bible  study  in  the  University  of  Chicago.  While  at  North 
Manchester,  for  two  years,  she  did  practically  all  the 
editorial  work  of  the   Bible  Student. 

On  September  5,  1900,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Adam  Ebey,  and  the  following  month  they  sailed  for 
India.     In  that  land  three  sons  and  four  daughters  have 

308 


Biographical 

been  born  to  them  and  five  have  passed  to  the  better  land. 

Alice  received  strong  spiritual  impulses  from  her  par- 
ents, virho  were  faithful  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  At  fourteen  she  confessed  Christ  as  her  Sav- 
ior and  united  with  the  church.  Two  years  later,  when 
a  Sunday-school  was  organized,  she  became  a  teacher, 
and  served  as  teacher  or  superintendent  when  at  home 
until  she  went  abroad. 

In  India  she  has  labored  faithfully  with  her  husband  at 
the  station,  Dahanu.  Their  work,  along  medical  and  dis- 
pensary lines,  is  large.  She  is  able  to  do.  some  visiting, 
conducts  a  weekly  Bible  class  for  women,  and  rejoices 
to  serve  the  Lord  in  India  as  she  is  thus  permitted  to  do. 


ANNA  EBY 
Missionary  to  India,  1912 

In  the  pleasant  farm  home  of  Josiah  and  Emma  (Lan- 
dis)  Eby,  there  were  born  on  September  16,  1886,  Anna 
and  Robert  S., — twins.  Robert  died  when  six  years  old; 
later  another  daughter  came  to  gladden  the  home.  The 
father,  a  faithful  bishop,  was  a  successful  schoolteacher 
for  nineteen  years  and  then  confined  himself  entirely  to 
farming.  Anna  inherited  a  desire  for  an  education,  and 
desired  to  be  a  teacher.  She  completed  the  country  pub- 
lic school  with  credit;  also  the  four  years'  high  school  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  with  the  class  of  1904.  Then  she  spent 
one  year  at  Manchester  College,  North  Manchester,  In- 
diana. Returning  to  her  home  she  taught  the  home 
school  for  three  years.  In  1908  she  entered  Bethany  Bible 
School,  Chicago,  and  with  the  class  of  1912  completed  the 
Bible  Teachers'  and  Mission  Training  Courses. 

She  responded  fully  to  the  pious  atmosphere,  created  in 
the  home  by  her  parents  and  a  dear  aged  grandmother. 
On  September  3,  1899,  she  publicly  confessed  Christ 
through  baptism,  administered  by  J.  W.  Beeghly,  and 
thus   united   with  the    Bear    Creek   congregation   of  the 

309 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Church  of  the  Brethren.  Her  young  life  had  its  severe 
trials.  As  a  member  of  the  church  she  was  faithful,  while 
attending  the  Dayton  high  school, — perhaps  the  hardest 
test  that  comes  to  a  young  sister  to  endure.  Her  Chris- 
tian experience  at  Manchester  College  and  Bethany  Bible 
School  was  an  overflowing  joy.  Her  practical  work  in 
primary  Sunday-school,  in  home  Bible  classes,  Jewish 
work  and  Chinese  Sunday-school  was  good.  She  was  lead- 
er of  the  Volunteer  Band,  and  ever  ready  to  do  what 
her  consecrated  hands  could  perform.  During  her  last 
four  years  in  school  she  had  China  in  mind,  but  when 
the  Board  called  her  to  India,  she  responded  with  a  smile, 
and  rejoiced  in  being  permitted  to  go  there.  For  the  first 
year  in  India  her  progress  in  language  study  has  been 
good,  and  she  is  now  about  ready  to  enter  upon  effectual 
work- 


ENOCH   EBY 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board   1880-1885;   1893-1899 

Jacob  Eby,  a  farmer  living  in  Juniata  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  united  in  marriage  to  Susannah  Myers  March 
21,  1820.  To  them  were  given  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  Enoch  was  the  fifth  child.  Enoch's  early 
surroundings,  outside  the  home,  were  not  favorable.  He 
himself  stated  on  one  occasion:  "There  were  no  Sunday- 
schools,  but  plenty  of  distilleries,  with  much  dancing, 
swearing  and  frolicking.  I  thank  God  for  the  strict  paren- 
tal government  which  alone,  with  God's  help,  kept  me 
from  moral  destruction."  He  had  scant  opportunity  for 
education, — even  in  a  country  school, — yet,  when  a  young 
man,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  country  school.  With 
much  determination  he  pressed  forward,  working  on  the 
farm  in  the  summer,  and  teaching  in  the  winter.  In  1855 
he  moved  his  little  family  to  Stephenson  County,  Illinois, 
and  located  near  Lena,  within  the  bounds  of  the  Waddams 
Grove  congregation.    Here  he  was  successful  as  a  farmer, 

310 


Biographical 

even  though  much  of  his  time  was  given  to  church  work. 
In  1887  he  moved  on  a  farm  near  Darlow,  Kansas,  but  in 
1901  returned  to  Lena,  Illinois,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days. 

On  November  19,  1847,  Enoch  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Hettie,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Howe.  To  them  were 
born  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  The  mother  died  on 
January  28,  1861,  and  on  March  10,  1864,  Enoch  was  mar- 
ried to  Anna  GilfiUen,  who  passed  away  on  June  20,  1906. 

Enoch's  parents  were  godly  people,  and  gave  their  chil- 
dren careful  religious  training,  as  is  seen  in  the  fact  that 
all  of  them  united  with  the  church  while  young.  In  1845, 
when  but  seventeen,  he  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  In  1851  he  was  called  to  the  ministry  in  the 
Aughwick  congregation  of  Pennsylvania.  After  he  located 
in  Illinois,  he  was  advanced  to  the  second  degree,  and 
later,  in  1864,  ordained  to  the  bishopric.  In  1877  he  was 
sent,  with  Daniel  Fry,  to  establish  our  mission  work  in 
Denmark,  thus  becoming  the  pioneer  of  foreign  missions. 
He  was  much  used  of  the  church  on  many  different  and 
important  committees.  He  was  often  Moderator  of  his 
District  Meeting  and  represented  his  District  on  Standing 
Committee  eighteen  times.  During  that  service  he  was 
either    Moderator   or    Clerk   fifteen    times. 

When  the  first  missionary  organization  was  set  on  foot 
in  1880,  Brother  Eby  was  a  member  and  its  President. 
When  the  new  plan  was  approved  in  1884  he  served  one 
year  on  the  General  Board;  then  dropped  out  till  1893- 
99.  While  on  the  Board,  as  its  President,  he  was  deeply 
concerned  for  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  and  ever  ready 
to  go  forward. 

He  rejoiced  much  in  the  work  of  the  church  till  the 
close  of  life,  which  came  to  him  April  29,  1910.  News 
of  his  death  was  received  while  the  Board  was  in  session 
at  Elgin,  Illinois,  and  proper  resolutions  were  passed 
at  that  meeting.  Plis  body  is  at  rest  in  the  Chelsea  cem- 
etery, within  the  bounds  of  the  Waddams  Grove  congrega- 
tion,  Northern   Illinois. 


311 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ENOCH  H.  EBY 
Missionary  to  India,  1904 

John  Eby,  son  of  Enoch  Eby,  a  leading  spirit  of  the 
Brotherhood  at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  was  born 
and  raised  in  Stephenson  County,  Illinois.  He  married 
Anna,  daughter  of  Daniel  Price,  on  February  10,  1876.  To 
them  were  born  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Soon  aft- 
er John  and  Anna  were  married,  they  moved  to  Iowa 
and  here  Enoch,  their  first  child,  was  born  on  January  15, 
1877.  When  seven  years  old  the  family  moved  to  Summer- 
field,  Kansas,  and  here  the  lad  began  his  career  as  a  stu- 
dent. He  delighted  in  books,  was  a  close  student  and  at 
sixteen  entered  McPherson  College.  By  working  his 
way  through  school,  he  completed  five  courses  during  the 
eight  following  years,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1904 
in   his   college   work. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma  Ada,  daughter  of 
Abraham  Horner,  of  Carlisle,  Nebraska,  on  April  12, 
1903.     To  them  have  been  born  three  sons. 

Enoch's  parents  were  deeply  concerned  about  the  spir- 
itual welfare  of  their  children.  The  father's  sermons 
moved  the  child's  heart  in  early  years.  In  the  Morrill 
congregation,  of  Kansas,  Enoch  confessed  Christ,  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  June,  1887, 
when  but  ten  years  old.  This  step,  in  time,  opened  a  new 
field  for  service  and  into  it  he  entered  with  zest.  He 
was  a  diligent  worker  in  Sunday-school,  He  delighted 
in  helping  in  a  mission  school  in  McPherson,  where  he 
taught  a  class  of  boys  and  thus  showed  his  love  for  his 
Master,  While  at  college,  he  was  leader  in  missions,  or- 
ganized mission  study  classes,  and  sought  every  avenue 
possible  for  greater  good  among  the  student  body.  Mc- 
Pherson College  called  him  to  the  ministry  May  16,  1900. 
He  preached  his  first  sermon  the  next  month  at  Summer- 
field,  Kansas,  He  spent,  while  going  to  school,  five  sum- 
mers in  canvassing  in  Kansas,  Colorado,  Utah,  Idaho  and 
Washington, 

312 


Biographical 

In  1904  he  went  as  a  missionary  to  India.  After  ac- 
quiring the  language,  he  was  located  first  at  Ankleshwer, 
looking  towards  opening  a  mission  in  Jhagadia  in  the  Raj 
Pipla  state.  After  considerable  work  had  been  done  at 
the  latter  place,  the  station  was  abandoned  for  the  time, 
and  he  located  at  Vali.  Here  he  engaged  in  village  work 
along  with  assisting  in  the  care  of  the  station,  and  had 
full  charge  during  Brother  Lichty's  furlough.  After  three 
years'  service  at  this  station,  his  furlough  home  was  al- 
ready past  due.  When  all  arrangements  were  made  for 
sailing,  Brother  Eby  was  taken  with  pneumonia,  and  his 
wife  and  oldest  son  with  smallpox.  This  delayed  their 
homecoming  two  months,  and  caused  them  to  miss  the 
Conference  of  1912.  During  the  year  on  furlough,  they 
have  spent  the  time  in  Chicago,  at  Bethany  Bible  School. 
His  furlough  is  extended,  because  his  health  has  not  yet 
been  fully  regained. 


MRS.  ENOCH  H.  EBY,  NEE  EMMA  HORNER 

Missionary  to  India,  1904 

To  Abram  Horner,  raised  in  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Annetta  Wicks,  of  Huntingdon  County, 
same  State,  who  were  married  on  January  21,  1869,  were 
given  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  Emma,  the 
fourth  child,  was  born  on  April  15,  1874,  on  the  farm  near 
Falls  City,  Nebraska.  In  1875  the  family  moved  to  Car- 
lisle, the  same  State.  When  Emma  was  four  years  old, 
she  began  going  to  school.  She  spent  happy  days  in  the 
school-room,  and  had  an  ambition,  at  fifteen,  to  become 
a  schoolteacher.  At  seventeen  she  attended  high  school 
at  Beatrice,  Nebraska,  and  lived  in  the  home  of  J.  E. 
Young.  In  1893  she  began  teaching,  and  for  the  next 
ten  years  was  either  teaching  or  going  to  school.  During 
this  time  she  spent  five  years  in  McPherson  College,  Mc- 
Pherson,  Kansas,  where  she  completed  four  courses  of 
study,  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1901. 

313 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

At  McPherson  she  met  Enoch  H.  Eby  and  was  united 
in  marriage  to  him  on  April  12,  1903.  To.  them  were  born 
three  sons. 

Emma's  earliest  recollections  are  of  going  to  church  in 
the  lumber  wagon.  Her  Sunday-school  teachers  made 
deep  impressions  upon  her  young  mind.  When  fifteen 
years  old,  she  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in  the  Bethel  congregation  on  May  12, 
1889.  This  step  opened  new  fields  of  usefulness  and  she 
was  old  enough  to  go  to  work  at  once.  She  was  active 
in  the  Sunday-school  as  a  teacher,  and  also  served  as  a 
leader  of  young  people's  meetings,  the  Reading  Circle, 
and  kindred   church   activities. 

She  gladly  joined  her  husband  in  his  work  as  a  mis- 
sionary, and  labored  faithfully  in  India.  During  the  last 
year  on  the  field,  she  suffered  much  from  a  hard  attack 
of  smallpox.  This  delayed  their  homecoming,  and  caused 
them  to  miss  the  Conference  of  1912.  She  is  now  wait- 
ing the  full  recovery  of  her  husband's  health,  so  that 
they  may  return  to  their  chosen  field  of  labor. 


JESSE  B.  EMMERT 
Missionary  to  India,  1902 

About  one  mile  south  of  Waynesboro,  Franklin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  lived  Joseph  F.  Emmert,  a  mechanic  and 
inventor.  He  and  his  wife,  as  well  as  their  ancestors,  for 
several  generations,  were  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  thus  bringing  to  their  children  a  good  and  noble 
heritage.  To  them  Jesse  B.  was  born  on  October  11, 
1873.  From  his  father  he  inherited  the  mechanical  genius 
which  guided  his  choice  of  livelihood.  He  worked  in  the 
Frick  shops  of  Waynesboro,  where  his  father  was  fore- 
man; later  he  secured  a  position  in  the  Altoona  (Pa.)  car 
shops  where,  in  six  months,  he  saved  two  hundred  dol- 
lars  from   his    earnings. 

His  early  education  was  received  iri  the  public  schools. 

314 


Biographical 

Then,  the  opportunity  offering  itself,  he  went  to  Juniata 
College,  at  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  finished 
his  academic  and  college  courses,  earning  his  way  entirely 
by  applying  his  mechanical  ability  during  spare  hours. 
He  graduated  in  1902,  just  before  starting  for  India. 

On  December  29,  1895,  Jesse  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  while  in  the  Antietam  congregation  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  story  of  his  religious  life  is  the  story 
of  his  college  life,  for  they  are  one.  He  began  at  once 
to  save  others  and  during  the  same  winter,  of  his  own 
conversion,  led  others  to  Christ.  In  1897  he  was  elected 
President  of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  in  that  work 
his  missionary  interest  was  awakened.  During  the  same 
winter  he  became  a  charter  member  of  the  College  Boys' 
Christian  Band.  He  was  delegate  to  the  Student  Volun- 
teen  Convention  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  also  to  the  Stu- 
dent Convention  at  Northfield,  Massachusetts.  At  these 
places  his  missionary  enthusiasm  was  increased.  In  1899 
he  joined  the  Student  Volunteer  Band,  in  which  he  waa 
an  earnest  worker.  In  1900  he  was  appointed  Sunday^ 
school  Secretary  for  the  Middle  District  of  Pennsylvania. 
In  1901  he  was  elected  to.  the  ministry.  When  the  Middle 
District  of  Pennsylvania  decided  to  send  out  a  missionary, 
Brother    Emmert   was    the    choice    of   the    District. 

On  the  field  he  has  done  much  good  work.  He  has  su- 
perintended the  erection  of  nearly  all  the  buildings  in 
India,  has  developed  the  industrial  work  to  a  high  point 
of  efficiency,  along  with  doing,  as  District  Sunday-school 
Secretary,  a  large  amount  of  work  for  the  Sunday-school. 
On  February  23,  1905,  he  and  Sister  Gertrude  Rowland 
were  united  in  marriage.  To  them  have  been  born  three 
children.  Because  of  the  nature  of  Brother  Emmert's 
work,  they  have  their  home  at  Bulsar.  They  were  home 
on  furlough  1909-1910.  Their  visit  among  the  churches 
increased  missionary  interest,  and  they  returned  much  re- 
freshed. 


315 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 


MRS.    JESSE     B.     EMMERT,    NEE    GERTRUDE 

ROWLAND 

Missionary  to  India,  1904 

On  a  farm  near  Reids,  Washington  County,  Maryland, 
on  October  10,  1876,  Gertrude  E.  Rowland  gladdened  the 
home  of  her  parents,  Abram  S.  and  Susan  Friedly  Row- 
land, because,  preceding  her  in  the  home,  were  five  sons. 
Her  young  life  was  marked  with  the  joys  common  to  a 
good  home.  She  attended  the  public  school  until,  in  1895, 
she  was  induced  to  enter  Juniata  College,  Huntingdon, 
Pennsylvania.  She  applied  herself  for  two  years,  dropped 
one  year  to  teach  school,  and  then  returned  and  finished 
a  course  the  year  following.  She  returned  home  and  en- 
tered upon  teaching;  but  after  two  yeaVs  she  was  com- 
pelled to  quit,  because  not  strong  enough  to  endure  the 
strain. 

When  eighteen  years  old,  she  confessed  Christ  at  Ju- 
niata College,  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren, baptism  being  administered  by  W.  J.  Swigart.  Her 
spiritual  growth  was  marked  while  at  Juniata  College,  and 
she  took  hold  of  religious  duties  with  pleasure.  She  was 
leader  of  the  Young  Ladies'  Christian  Band,  and  super- 
intendent of  the  home  Sunday-school  during  the  summer, 
and  thus  made  herself  useful  for  her  Lord. 

During  the  winter  of  1903  she  was  constrained  to  oflFer 
her  life  in  service  on  the  India  field.  She  was  approved 
by  the  Conference  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  but  was 
not  permitted  to  sail  that  fall  on'  account  of  her  health. 
After  a  short  rest  she  came  to  Chicago  and  assisted  Cora 
Cripe  in  the  Children's  Mission  there.  This  gladdened  her 
heart,  and  she  and  her  work  were  long  remembered.  In 
the  fall  of  1904  she  sailed  for  India.  At  Bulsar,  on  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1905,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Jesse  B. 
Emmert  and  has  been  a  faithful  helper  in  his  active  life 
on  the  field.  To  them  have  been  born  three  children. 
She  enjoyed  the  furlough  home  during  1910-11  but  was 
glad  to  return  to  her  chosen  field  of  labor. 

316 


Biographical 

GASTON  J.  FERCKEN 

Missionary  to  Asia  Minor,  1895  to  1899 

Missionary  to  Switzerland  and  France,  1899  to  1906 

William  E.  Fercken  was  a  Hollander  by  birth,  a  mer- 
chant   by    trade,    a    Vice-consul    of    the    Netherlands    in 
Aleppo,  at  the  time  his  son,  Gaston,  was  born  on  June 
10,  1855.    His  wife  was  a  native  of  Marseilles,  France,  and 
a  daughter  of  one  of  the  soldiers  who,  under  Napoleon, 
fought  at  Waterloo..    When  the  son  was  still  a  child,  the 
Government   ordered   the   father   to   locate   at   Beirut,   he 
having   been   made    Consul   for   the    Netherlands    in   that 
place.     From  seven  till  fourteen  Gaston  attended  the  pri- 
vate school  of  a  Lutheran  minister  w^ho  taught  him  read- 
ing,   spelling,    arithmetic,    grammar,    history,    geography, 
the   Bible  and  the  catechism.     He  then  entered  the   Na- 
tional College,  a  native  institution,  where  all  the  studies 
were  pursued  in  Arabic.     Five  years  gave  him  thorough 
training  in  the  language  as  well  as  other  studies.     Here 
he  also  learned  the  English  language.     He  began  work  in 
an   insunance  and   mercantile   office,  but   soon  having   an 
opportunity  to  travel   through   France,   Italy,  Tunis,   Al- 
geria, Egypt,  India  and  Ceylon,  with  a  wealthy  manufac- 
turer as  his  private  interpreter,  he  quit  the  office.     In  the 
meantime,   his   parents   both   having   died,   he   located    at 
Smyrna,  where  his   father  was   born,   and  where  two  of 
his   brothers   resided.     Here   he   spent   five   years   in   the 
Austrian  College,  teaching  and  pursuing  his  studies,  until 
he  was  granted  the  degrees  of  B.  A.  and  B.  S.    Here  also 
he  became  fluent  in  speaking  the  Greek.    Up  to  this  time 
he  had  made  no  profession.     His  mother  was  a  Catholic; 
his  father  never  identified  himself  with  any  organization. 
Gaston  felt  called  to  the  ministry  and  thought  he  would 
attend  a  divinity  school,  and  look  into  the  Word  to  de- 
termine where  he  could  be  most  at  home.     The  choice 
of  schools  was  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  in  the  Free  Re- 
formed church.    After  two  years'  study  he  embraced  the 

317 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

opportunity  to  come  to  America,  and  finish  his  theolog- 
ical education  in  the  Episcopal  College  at  Middletown, 
Connecticut.  He  then  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Epis- 
copal church.  At  this  time  he  was  married  to  a  lady 
from  South  Carolina,  and  to  them  were  born  a  son  and  a 
daughter.  He  spent  ten  years  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  as 
a  missionary  for  the  Episcopal  church.  In  December, 
1894,  he  and  his  wife,  after  some  correspondence  with 
D.  L.  Miller  and  one  or  two  others,  came  to  Mt.  Mor- 
ris, Illinois,  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
In  due  time  the  Mt.  Morris  church  called  him  to  the  min- 
istry, the  Conference  of  1895  approved  of  him  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  Asia  Minor,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
he  and  his  family  located  at  Smyrna,  Asia  Minor.  Here 
he  labored,  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  also  conducting 
an  orphanage,  until,  after  a  careful  investigation  by  D.  L. 
Miller,  in  1899,  the  mission  was  closed,  and  Brother 
Fercken  opened  a  mission  at  Lancy,  near  Geneva,  Switzer- 
land. After  about  three  years  the  mission  and  orphanage 
were  moved  to  Oyonnax,  France,  a  small  village  in  the 
eastern  part  of  that  Republic.  He  was  home  on  furlough 
in  1903  and  at  the  Conference  at  Bellefontaine  represented 
Switzerland  on  the  Standing  Committee. 

Brother  Fercken  was  a  fluent  writer,  a  great  reader,  and 
while  in  France  began  to  follow  the  teaching  of  Sweden- 
borg.  In  1903  he  published,  unknown  to  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board,  through  the  Swedenborgian  press,  "Twelve 
Letters  to.  My  Son,"  followed  the  next  year  by  "  Even 
Thine  Altars;"  and  in  still  another  year  by  "The  Divine 
Philosophy."  With  the  issue  of  the  last  book  a  fevir 
brethren  learned  of  his  books  and  secured  them.  As 
soon  as  he  learned  this,  in  1906,  he  left  his  mission  in 
France  for  parts  unknown.  After  some  time  it  was 
learned  that  he  was  on  an  island  east  of  Madagascar,  in 
the  Indian  Ocean.  His  wife  did  not  accompany  him  after 
he  left  France. 


318 


Biographical 

MRS.  GASTON  J.  FERCKEN 

Missionary  to  Asia  Minor,  1895  to   1899 

Missionary  to  Switzerland,  1899  to  1902 

Sister  Fercken  was  a  daughter  of  a  wealthy  gentle- 
man in  South  Carolina.  She  was  attending  school  in  the 
North,  formed  the  acquaintance  of  G.  J.  Fercken  and 
married  him.  To  them  were  born  a  son  and  a  daughter. 
She  accompanied  her  husband  through  all  his  labors  until 
after  the  mission  was  established  in  France.  She  then 
brought  her  children  to  America  and  at  last  accounts 
she  was  living  with  relatives  in  New  York  City. 


DAVID  S.  FILBRUN 
Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  1890-1894 

David  S.  Filbrun  was  born  near  New  Carlisle,  Miami 
County,  Ohio,  on  January  18,  1852.  His  parents  were  ear- 
nest Christian  people,  the  father  serving  as  deacon  in 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  for  many  years.  Reared  upon 
the  farm,  their  children  had  every  advantage  for  a  well 
rounded  out  development.  David  is  the  fourth  child  in  a 
family  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  The  common 
schools  were  good  and  David  applied  himself  diligently. 
At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  teach  public  school, 
and  taught  twenty-four  consecutive  years,  giving  two 
years,  however,  exclusively  to  township  supervision.  His 
first  school  was  in  Sulphur  Grove  schoolhouse,  nine  miles 
north  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 

On  December  12,  1872,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sarah  Ellen  Karns,  and  to  them  were  born  one  son  and 
four  daughters.  All  are  living  but  one  daughter,  and  all 
have   confessed    Christ. 

When  twenty-three  years  old,  Brother  Filbrun  con- 
fessed Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
in  the  Hickory  Grove  congregation.  Southern   Ohio,  Jo- 

319 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

seph  Arnold  administering  the  rite  of  baptism.  In  1880 
he  was  called  to  the  deacon's  office  by  this  congregation, 
and  served  till  June  10,  1883,  when  he  was  elected  to  the 
ministry.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  on  October  20, 
in  the  West  Charleston  house,  using  for  his  text  1  Cor. 
3:  11.  In  1887  he  was  advanced  to.  the  second  degree,  and 
on  October  25,  1900,  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the 
laying  on  of  hands,  Jesse  Stutsman  and  Daniel  C.  Hen- 
drickson  officiating.  In  Sunday-school  lines  he  has  been, 
and  is,  an  enthusiastic  worker.  He  was  active  in  evan- 
gelistic work.  In  1900  he  went  to  Utah  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  General  Mission  Board  and  endeavored  to  es- 
tablish a  mission  near  Brigham  City,  sixty  miles  north 
of  Salt  Lake  City.  He  spent  two  years;  but  the  time  being 
inopportune,  the  mission  was  closed,  and  he  returned  to 
Ohio.  He  was  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren in  Chicago  from  June,  1906,  to  August,  1908.  Then  he 
went  to  West  Dayton,  Ohio,  for  four  years,  and  is  now  in 
charge  of  a  mission  church  at  Circleville,  Ohio.  He 
served  fro.m  1890  to  1894  as  a  member  of  the  Book  and 
Tract  Work,  and  from  1895  to  1905  on  the  Tract  Examin- 
ing Committee.  While  he  is  devoting  his  time  to  Cir- 
cleville, Ohio,  his  heart  is  warm  for  the  larger  interests 
of  the  church  in  all  the  world. 


DANIEL  L.  FORNEY 

Missionary  to  India,  1897  to  1904 

Edmund  Forney  comes  from  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, stock.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  taught  school 
a  few  terms,  and  came  west  before  he  was  twenty.  He 
finally  located  in  Ogle  County,  Illinois.  Here  he  met  and 
on  April  24,  1862,  married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of 
Isaac  Hershey,  who,  some  years  before,  came  from  Wash- 
ington County,  Maryland.  To  them  were  given  seven 
sons  and  two  daughters,  their  second  child  being  Daniel, 
born  on  October  1,  1865.     He  helped  his  mother  in  the 

320 


Plate  10 


Opposite   320 


Sadie  J.   Miller  J.    B.    Emmert  Mrs.  J.   B.   Emmert 

Mary  N.   Quinter         j.    M.    Blough  Mrs.   J.   M.   Bloiigh 

O.    H.    Yereman  D.    J.    Lichty  Mrs.   D.  J.   Ijiclity 


Biographical 

home  and  went  to  common  school  until  about  twelve 
years  old.  Then  he  engaged  in  hard  work  on  the  farm, 
and  had  a  small  part  of  the  winter  to  attend  school  each 
year.  At  seventeen  he  was  teaching  country  school.  In 
1888  he  entered  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois, 
and  continued  for  five  years,  graduating  in  the  Academic 
Clas'sical  Course  in  the  class  of  1893. 

On  January  1,  1896,  at  North  Manchester,  Indiana,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Shull.  To  them  have 
been  born  five  daughters. 

Daniel's  childhood  was  marked  by  a  very  sensitive  con- 
science in  doing  what  was  right.  He  longed  to  be  right 
with  Go<l,  long  before  he  confessed  Christ,  at  eleven  years 
old.  The  occasion  was  a  love  feast  in  the  Pine  Creek 
congregation,  in  October  of  1877.  M.  S.  Newcomer  ad- 
ministered the  rite  of  baptism.  When  twenty  years  old, 
the  Pine  Creek  congregation  called  him  into  the  ministry 
on  June  4,  1886.  Soon  after,  he  made  his  first  efifort  to 
preach,  using  for  his  text  John  3:  16.  It  was  while  at  Mt. 
Morris  College,  under  the  deep,  spiritual  influence  felt 
there,  that  conviction  came  into  his  life  to  devote  himself 
to  forwarding  the  kingdom  of  God,  rather  than  to  pursue 
any  other  course.  Missions  appealed  to  him,  and  after 
his  school  work  was  done,  he  entered  upon  practical 
work  in  Arkansas,  where  he  spent  three  years.  On  Sep- 
tember 4,  1897,  Palestine,  Arkansas,  congregation  rejoiced 
in  his  advancement  to  the  bishopric  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands  by  Henry  Brubaker  and  Frank  Bradley.  Soon  after 
the  General  Mission  Board  invited  him  to  go  to  India, 
and  on  October  27,  1897,  he  and  his  family  sailed  for  their 
new  field  of  labor.  Here,  after  acquiring  the  language, 
he  located  first  at  Novsari,  a  native  city,  and  a  few  years 
later,  after  the  mission  house  was  completed,  at  Jalalpor. 
Continued  illness  in  his  family  interfered  somewhat  with 
aggressive  work  for  him,  and  yet  his  earnest,  patient  la- 
bors were  greatly  appreciated.  Finally,  in  1904,  much  to 
the  regret  of  all,  he  and  his  family  returned  to  America. 

Brother  Forney  served  on  the  Standing  Committee  at 
the  Annual  Meeting  at  Carthage,  Missouri,  in  1904,  and 

321 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  1911.  His  home  is  in  Reedley, 
California.  Missions  have  not  a  more  loyal  supporter 
than  Brother  Forney,  whose  heart  is  in  India. 


MRS.    D.    L.    FORNEY,    NEE    ANNA    SHULL 
Missionary  to  India,  1897  to  1904 

To  George  and  Elizabeth  (Brubaker)  Shull,  who  lived 
near  Virden,  Illinois,  were  given  one  son  and  four  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  Anna,  born  January  9,  1871,  was  fourth. 
The  family  was  in  limited  circumstances  and  the  bulrden 
seemed  very  heavy  to  all  when,  four  years  after  her  birth, 
Anna's  father  died.  But  the  mother  being  strong  and 
courageous,  kept  the  children  together  and  gave  them  a 
happy  childhood.  During  the  winter  Anna  attended  the 
Pleasant  Hill  public  school.  Thus  the  years  passed  until 
Anna  was  nearly  sixteen,  when  her  mother  passed  away. 
Anna  found  a  good  home  with  her  uncle,  J.  H.  Brubaker, 
of  Virden,  Illinois.  Soon  after  this  Anna  entered  Mt. 
Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  where  she  pursued 
the  Teachers'  Course  and  did  much  Bible  study  for  three 
years.  Later  she  finished  the  Bible  Course  at  Manchester 
College,  North  Manchester,  Indiana.  In  order  to  accom- 
plish this,  she  taught  country  school,  canvassed  for  books, 
and  did  any  honorable  work  that  brought  the  needed 
funds. 

While  living  at  North  Manchester,  Indiana,  on  January 
1,  1896,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Daniel  L.  Forney 
and  to  them  have  been  born  five  daughters. 

Anna  recalls  her  mother's  fervent  prayers  at  family 
worship,  after  her  father  died,  how  she  was  taken  to  Sun- 
day-school, in  Daniel  Vaniman's  barn,  before  the  church 
had  given  her  consent  to  have  it  in  the  churchhouse.  She 
accepted  Christ  in  her  early  years,  and  after  marriage 
accompanied  her  husband  to  the  mission  field  of  Arkan- 
sas. Here  she  enjoyed  her  labors,  and  endeared  herself 
to  the  hearts  of  the  people.     She  trustfully  accepted  the 

322 


Biographical 

call  to  India,  when  she  could  not  see  the  way  in  going, 
and  the  close  of  1897  found  her  on  foreign  soil,  studying 
a  heathen  language.  In  February,  1899,  they  located  at 
Novsari,  a  native  city  without  a  missionary.  When  the 
famine  broke  out  in  1900,  they  took  a  number  of  famine 
children.  The  mission  house  in  Jalalpor  having  been  com- 
pleted, they  moved  there,  remaining  at  that  place  until 
their  return  to  America  in  1904.  It  was  with  deep  regret, 
considered  imperative,  for  health  considerations,  that  the 
family  should  return  to  America.  Though  living  in  a  good 
home  in  CalifoTnia,  yet  their  hearts  long  for  the  India 
field,  and,  had  it  been  thought  advisable,  they  would 
have  gladly  returned,  as  late  as  two  years  ago. 


ISAAC   FRANTZ 
Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  18S7-1890 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1895-1897 

To  Jacob  Frantz,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  German  de- 
scent, and  Phebe,  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Stude- 
baker,  there  was  born,  on  June  15,  1850,  in  Clark  County, 
Ohio,  near  Springfield,  a  son  whom  they  named  Isaac. 
He  was  the  oldest  child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  The  father  and  mother  confessed  Christ 
early  in  life,  and  sought  to  impart  the  vital  truths  of 
Christianity  to  their  children.  Reared  on  the  farm,  Isaac 
always  liked  the  soil  well,  and  has  continued  near  it 
till,  in  recent  years,  he  resides  in  Pleasant  Hill,  Ohio. 
His  education  did  not  extend  beyond  the  common  schools. 

On  January  4,  1872,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Eliz- 
abeth E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  B.  Miller,  living  in  Dayton, 
Ohio.  To  this  union  were  born  three  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Death  removed  his  faithful  companion,  and 
on  December  25,  1893,  he  was  married  to  Emma  K., 
daughter  of  Isaac  Kulp,  of  Graters  Ford,  Pennsylvania. 
By  this  union  one  daughter  was  born.  Sister  Emma  died 
of  cancer   on   August  27,    1912. 

223 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

In  the  Hickory  Grove  congregation,  of  Southern  Ohio, 
Isaac  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Isaac  Studebaker  baptizing  him  March  18,  1876. 
He  was  active  in  Sunday-school  work,  and  ready  to  do 
whatever  the  church  called  upon  him.  to  do.  On  March 
4,  1880,  he  was  elected  to  the  ministry  in  the  Newton  con- 
gregation. On  the  third  Sunday  following  he  preached  his 
first  sermon  from  Romans  1:  16.  He  was  ordained  to 
the  bishopric  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  by  Brethren  J.  K. 
Brumbaugh  and  D.  C.  Hendrickson,  on  March  1,  1906.  He 
was  chosen  overseer  of  the  Newton  congregation  in  1907, 
which  position  he   still   occupies. 

As  a  member  of  the  Book  and  Tract  Work  he  was  most 
earnest  and  active  in  promoting  its  interests.  His  ad- 
dresses at  Conference,  in  behalf  of  tract  distribution  and 
the  use  of  the  "  Golden  Gleams "  in  the  home,  are  still 
remembered  by  many.  He  completed  the  unexpired  term 
of  S.  W.  Hoover  on  the  General  Mission  Board,  and  was 
sent  by  that  Board  on  some  important  tours  of  investi- 
gation. 

He  is  now  giving  his  entire  time  to  evangelistic  work, 
in  which  he  takes  great  delight,  and  has  been  richly 
blessed  of  the  Lord, 


JAMES  R.  GISH 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1885  to  1887 

Christian  Gish  was  a  farmer  and  member  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  living  in  Roanoke  County,  Virginia.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Houtz,  and  to  them 
were  given  two  sons  and  six  daughters,  Rufus  being  the 
sixth  child,  born  on  June  4,  1826.  He  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  knew  what  hard  work  was,  and  enjoyed  it.  He  had 
few  school  privileges.  In  January,  1849,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Barbara,  a  daughter  of  Emanuel  Kindig. 
The  fall  of  the  same  year  the  young  people  migrated  by 
wagon    to.   Woodford    County,    Illinois,    and    settled    on 

324 


Biographical 

Grand  Prairie,  where  the  city  of  Roanoke  now  stands. 
Land  was  cheap  in  those  days,  and  Rufus  first  entered  and 
then  bought,  until  he  owned  a  large  lot  of  the  most  val- 
uable land.  In  this  way  he  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
large  estate  he  devoted  to  the  advancement  of  the  king- 
dom and  the  glory  of  God. 

Rufus'  parents  were  earnest  members  of  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  and  sought  to  rear  their  children  properly. 
Some  years  after  his  marriage,  on  June  27,  1852,  Rufus 
and  his  wife  Barbara,  Geo.  W.  Gish  and  Sarah  Jane,  his 
wife,  Tobias  Kindig  and  Anna,  his  wife,  and  P.  A.  Moore 
and  Clarinda,  his  wife, — in  all  eight, — were  baptized  by 
David  Martin.  These,  with  Brother  Gish's  father  and 
mother,  and  three  others,  who  had  migrated  to  the  same 
colony,  formed  themselves  into  a  congregation.  On  Octo- 
ber 23,  1852,  the  little  band  elected  Rufus  to  the  ministry. 
He  took  steps  to  prepare  himself  properly,  and  soon 
showed  himself  a  workman  of  whom  no  one  needed  to  be 
ashamed.  On  June  26,  1853,  he  was  advanced,  and  on 
October  23,  1863,  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the  laying 
on  of  hands  by  David  Martin  and  Jacob  Negley.  He  and 
his  wife  did  their  best  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
church,  and  soon  he  was  overseer  of  one  of  the  strongest 
congregations  in  Southern  Illinois. 

Brother  Gish  loved  the  highways  and  byways  of  life. 
He  and  his  wife  would  start  out  in  a  private  conveyance, 
make  long  journeys  and  preach  to  the  people  as  oppor- 
tunity was  opened  to  them.  This  he  enjoyed  better  than 
the  large  gatherings  in  the  well-settled  congregations  of 
the  Brotherhood.  His  labors  extended  through  much  of 
the  Southwest  of  the  United  States.  He  was  appointed 
on  the  General  Mission  Board,  but  resigned  after  two 
years  of  service,  and  went  to  the  front  again.  It  was  the 
wisdom  of  "Aunt  Barbara,"  after  her  husband's  death,  to 
provide  for  the  ministers  as  they  are  now  being  helped 
through  the  Gish  Publishing  Fund,  described  elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 


325 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

JACOB  F.  GRAYBILL 
Missionary  to  Sweden,  1911 

Near  Annville,  Lebanon  County,  Pennsylvania,  lived 
Henry  and  Barbara  Graybill  on  a  farm.  The  husband 
made  no  profession  of  Christianity  and  the  wife  was  a 
devout  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  To  them 
were  born  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  Jacob 
F.,  born  on  June  10,  1874,  was  the  second  child.  Jacob's 
father  died  when  he  was  four  years  old,  and  pious  grand- 
parents reared  the  lad.  He  received  a  good  public  school 
education,  and  also  attended  a  private  academy.  After 
his  marriage  he  engaged  in  farming  four  years,  worked  in 
a  flouring  mill  two  years,  and  in  the  Harrisburg  car 
shops  three  years. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Alice  M.,  daughter  of 
John  Hof¥er,  of  Annville,  Pennsylvania. 

Though  not  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Jacob's  grandparents  were  godly  people,  who  gave  the 
proper  spiritual  trend  to  his  life.  Two  years  after  mar- 
riage, while  living  in  Harrisburg,  he  confessed  Christ  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  at  Palmyra,  Penn- 
sylvania, Jacoib  Longenecker  administering  baptism.  He 
at  once  became  active,  and  a  leader  in  the  Palmyra  Sun- 
day-school. At  thirty  he  was  called  to  the  ministry,  and 
this  changed  his  life  purposes.  In  order  better  to  qual- 
ify himself,  he  entered  Elizabethtown  College,  Elizabeth- 
town,  Pennsylvania,  and  took  the  Bible  Course  two  years. 
Then  he  accepted  a  pastorate  in  the  Amwell  and  Union 
churches  of  New  Jersey,  under  the  Mission  Board  of 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  while  there  attended  a  Bible 
Teacher  Training  School  in  New  York  City.  In  1909  he 
accepted  a  position  on  the  faculty  of  Hebron  Seminary,  at 
Nokesville,  Virginia,  teaching  Bible,  English  and  Mathe- 
matics. It  was  here  that  he  offered  his  services  to  the 
General  Mission  Board,  and  in  the  summer  of  1911  went 
to  Malmo,  Sweden,  in  behalf  of  the  church.  Since  on  the 
field,  he  has  done  good  work,  has  had  the  joy  of  a  number 
of  confessions,  and  will  do  much  to  build  up  the  church 
in  that  field. 

326 


Biographical 

MRS.  JACOB  F.  GRAYBILL,  NEE  ALICE  HOFFER 
Missionary  to  Sweden,  1911 

John  and  Magdalena  (Hostetler)  Hoffer,  members  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  lived  on  a  farm  near  Annville, 
Lebanon  County,  Pennsylvania,  when,  on  September  1, 
1874,  was  born  to  them  their  daughter  Alice,  the  youngest 
child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  seven  daughters.  Alice 
received  a  good  country  school  education  and  grew  to 
womanhood  under  the  quiet  influences  of  her  good  home. 
She  was  united  in  marriage  to  Jacob  F.  Graybill  on  No- 
vember 2,  1895.  Two  years  before  this  event  she  con- 
fessed Christ  in  the  Spring  Creek  congregation,  and  united 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  through  baptism,  admin- 
istered by  Jacob  Longenecker  on  Ascension  Day,  May 
25,  1894.  She  was  soon  assigned  primary  teaching  in  the 
Sunday-school, — a  task  she  considers  a  great  privilege, 
and  always  enjoys.  When  her  husband  was  called  to  the 
ministry,  she  heartily  seconded  his  desires  for  better 
preparation,  and  during  this  time  herself  took  Bible  stu- 
dies,— all  that  her  household  duties  would  permit.  She  is 
a  good  helper  in  her  husband's  pastoral  and  other  work,  in 
Malmo,  Sweden,  where  they  now  reside. 


CHARLES  H.  HAWBAKER 

Member    General    Mission    Board,    1888-1891 

In  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  near  Upton,  lived 
Peter  and  Nancy  (Maurer)  Hawbaker.  Both  had  been 
reared  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  faith.  On  Septem- 
ber 21,  1848,  Charles,  fourth  child  of  a  family  of  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  was  bo.rn.  The  family  lived 
on  the  farm  in  ordinary  circumstances  in  life,  and  Charles 
grew  to  manhood  well  acquainted  with  hard  work,  and 
having  no  more  education  than  the  common  school  of 
that  day  afforded.    In  1878  he  moved  to  Franklin  Grove, 

327 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  till  near  the  close 
of  his  life. 

On  December  12,  1878,  he  was  married  to.  Mary  Leh- 
man Buck.  When  twenty-one  years  old,  he  confessed 
Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
the  Upton  congregation,  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  active  and  pushing  in  all  he  did,  a  leader  in  the 
Sunday-school,  and  a  faithful  servant  on  the  District  Mis- 
sion Board  of  Northern  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  for  twenty 
years.  During  this  time  he  never  missed  a  meeting  of 
the  Board,  and  served  as  Secretary  for  several  years. 

In  1890  he  was  elected  deacon  in  the  Rock  River  con- 
gregation, in  which  capacity  he  labored  most  acceptably. 

In  1888  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  General  Mission 
Board,  and  was  a  willing  worker  in  that  capacity  in  what- 
ever work  was   assigned   him. 

He  had  been  apparently  in  good  health,  enjoying  life's 
duties.  Suddenly  on  December  2,  1910,  while  in  company 
with  John  Heckman  on  a  mission  trip  to  Rochelle,  Illi- 
nois, he  was  called  home,  and  his  body  rests  in  the  Em- 
mert  cemetery,  near  Nachusa,  Illinois. 


B.  FRANKLIN  HECKMAN 

Missionary   to    China,    1911    to    1913 

David  Heckman,  from  Indiana,  and  Elizabeth  Miller, 
of  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  Virginia,  met  in  Illinois,  and 
were  married  September  21,  1871.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Hammond,  Piatt  County,  Illinois.  Here,  on  Septem- 
ber 22,  1882,  Benjamin  Franklin,  the  fourth  child  in  a  fam- 
ily of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  was  born.  The  par- 
ents soon  saw  that  living  so  far  from  the  body  of  mem- 
bers wo.uld  be  against  bringing  up  their  children  in  the 
Lord,  and  in  1891,  the  family  moved  upon  a  farm  west  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Oakley  congregation,  Franklin 
worked  on  the  farm  in  the  summer,  but  was  busy  in  the 
school  during  the  winter.    In  1900  he  entered  Mt.  Morris 

328 


Biographical 

College,  and  remained  till  1905,  during  which  time  he 
completed  academic  courses,  and  did  several  years'  col- 
lege work.  He  was  principal  of  the  Cerro  Gordo  high 
school    for    two    years    following. 

While  at  Mt.  Morris  College,  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Minna  Mote,  and  they  were  married  on  June  21, 
1905,     To  them  were  born  two  daughters. 

Franklin's  parents  were  for  generations  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  thoughtfully  trained  their 
children  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord.  That  they  succeeded, 
may  be  seen  in  the  fact  that  all  have  confessed  Christ.  Four 
of  the  sons  are  ministers,  and  the  fifth  is  a  deacon  in 
the  church.  While  A.  G.  Crosswhite  was  holding  a  series 
of  meetings  in  the  Oakley  congregation,  Franklin  was 
among  those  who  confessed  Christ,  and  through  baptism, 
administered  by  M.  J.  McClure  in  October,  1898,  united 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  The  Cerro  Gordo  con- 
gregation called  him  to  the  ministry  on  December  31, 
1905.  He  at  once  became  active  and  effectual  in  his  work. 
In  1907  he  entered'  Bethany  Bible  School,  Chicago,  con- 
tinued for  four  years,  completed  the  Bible  course  there, 
and  did  enough  other  work  to  have  full  credit  for  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  During  these  four  years  he  spent  one 
summer  as  pastor  in  Springfield,  Illinois.  Other  sum- 
mers he  was  engaged  in  conducting  Bible  Institutes  in 
different  parts  of  the  Brotherhood.  During  the  school 
years  he  was  interested  in  rescue  work  in  Chicago,  as 
well  as  Sunday-school  and  mission  work  among  the  Chi- 
nese. On  September  15,  1911,  the  Chicago  congregation 
had  Brother  Heckman  ordained  to  the  bishopric  through 
the  laying  on  of  hands  by  I.  Bennett  Trout  and  J.  H. 
Moore. 

In  China  Franklin  was  located  at  Ping  Ting  Chou,  in 
the  Shansi  Province.  He  had  mastered  well  the  lan- 
guage and  was  becoming  of  great  help  in  the  mission. 
In  January,  1913,  smallpox  broke  out  in  his  family,  little 
Esther  coming  down  first.  Soon  the  father  was  taken  down 
and  in  a  critical  condition.  On  January  12,  1913,  he 
passed  to  his  reward  and  when  the  news  was  flashed  to 

329 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

the  homeland,  a  Brotherhood  stopped  and  thought,  and 
dropped  a  tear.  His  life  is  the  first  one  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  planted  in  the  heathen  soil  of  China,  but 
the  results  of  his  labors  are  not  done. 


MRS.  B.  F.  HECKMAN,  NEE  MINNA  MOTE 
Missionary  to  China,  1911  to  1913 

To  Harvey  and  Hettie  (Niswonger)  Mote,  who  lived 
on  their  farm,  ten  miles  north  of  Union  City,  Indiana,  on 
August  18,  1885,  Minna,  the  sixth  child  in  a  family  of 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  was  born.  Her  father 
was  of  English  descent,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  on 
the  Union  side,  and  afterwards  an  earnest  and  faithful 
soldier  of  the  Lord'  Jesus  Christ  in  the  ministry  till  his 
death  in  1909.  Minna's  childhood  on  the  farm  was  joyful; 
her  public  school  days  full  of  diligence.  In  1902  she  en- 
tered Mt.  Morris  College,  to  better  prepare  herself  fc-r 
life's  duties,  and  remained  two  years.  Between  1907  and 
'11  she  took  part  work  at  Bethany  Bible  School,  while 
her  husband  was  pursuing  his  studies. 

On  June  21,  1905,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  B. 
Franklin  Heckman  and  to  them  were  born  two  daughters. 

The  religious  impress  of  the  home  manifested  itself 
early  in  Minna's  life,  for  when  but  thirteen,  and  while 
Joseph  Spitzer  was  holding  a  series  of  meetings  in  the 
Pleasant  Valley  congregation  of  Ohio,  Minna  confessed 
Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Brother  B.  F.  Sharp  administering  the  rite  of  baptism  on 
February  15,  1898. 

In  China  she  nobly  stood  by  her  husband  in  all  his 
work, — a  true  helper  in  every  task  upon  him.  And  when 
he  was  so  unexpectedly  called  to  the  better  land,  she  bore 
up  under  the  sadness  with  Christian  fortitude.  She  wrote 
to  the  Board  that  her  services  were  at  their  command, 
and  that  her  only  concern  was  the  proper  training  of  her 
children.  She  returned  to  the  homeland  in  the  summer 
of  1913,  where,  for  a  time,  she  will  have  a  rest. 

330 


Biographical 

HERMAN  B.  HEISEY 
Missionary  to  India,  1912 

Both  John  H.  Heisey  and  his  wife,  Susan  L.  Biever, 
were  of  German  extraction.  They  lived  on  a  farm  in 
Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  near  Middletown,  and 
here,  on  December  10,  1890,  Herman  B.,  the  oldest  of 
two  sons,  was  born.  When  three  years  old,  his  mother 
died;  when  five,  his  father  also  died.  An  uncle  in  Leb- 
anon, W.  J.  Biever,  kind  and  tender,  took  Herman  to 
raise,  and  gave  him  a  good  home.  His  public  school  life 
was  first  in  Lebanon  and,  after  he  had  reached  his  teens,  in 
Johnstown,  Pennsylvania.  An  apt  student,  he  pushed  his 
way  rapidly  through  school,  at  the  latter  place  working 
during  his  vacations  in  the  Steel  Works,  first  as  car  tracer 
and  then  as  weighmaster.  He  also  took  a  course  of  study 
in  the  International  Correspondence  School.  He  entered 
Juniata  College,  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  completing 
the  Sacred  Literature  and  Divinity  Courses,  and  then  be- 
gan to  enter  active  work  for  his  Master. 

On  May  28,  1912,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Grace 
Nedrow,  whom  he  met  at  Juniata  College. 

The  spiritual  influences  of  his  foster  home  were  good. 
His  uncle  was  a  Lutheran,  and  his  grandmother,  Sarah  A. 
Biever,  of  Palmyra,  Pennsylvania,  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  At  fifteen,  Herman  was  deeply  im- 
pressed that  God  would  call  him  to  service  in  the  ministry, 
and  on  some  foreign  field.  He  sought  the  Word,  to  de- 
termine with  what  body  to  unite.  When  seventeen  years 
old,  he  confessed  Chtist  and  united  with  the  Johnstown 
congregation  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  William 
Howe  administering  baptism.  While  at  Juniata,  he  was 
called  to  the  ministry  when  nineteen  years  old,  and  the 
following  year  advanced  to  the  second  degree.  During 
the  first  vacation,  after  being  in  the  ministry,  he  preached 
at  home  nearly  every  Sunday.  At  the  close  of  his  college 
work  he  accepted  the  pastorate  at  Saxton,  Pennsylvania, 

331 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

continuing  there  until  it  became  necessary  to  prepare  for 
his  work  in  India. 

He  was  approved  by  the  Conference  of  1912  and  sailed 
for  his   chosen  field  in  the  fall. 


MRS.  HERMAN  B.  HEISEY,  NEE  GRACE  NEDROW 
Missionary  to  India,  1912 

In  a  beautiful  home  near  Jones  Mills,  nestled  among  the 
mountains  of  Westmoreland  County,  Pennsylvania,  John 
M.  and  Mary  Ferguson  Nedrow  live.  Here  they  reared 
a  family  of  four  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren born  unto  them.  Grace,  born  August  4,  1887,  was 
the  tenth  child.  At  five  she  began  school,  and  was  regu- 
lar and  faithful.  When  a  young  woman,  the  desire  of 
her  heart  was  realized,  as  she  stepped  within  the  walls  of 
Juniata  College  in  1911,  and  began  study  there.  She  com- 
pleted the  Normal  English  Course  and  took  work  in  the 
English  Bible  while  attending  this  institution. 

At  Juniata  College  she  met  Herman  B,  Heisey  and  on 
May  28,  1912,  was  united  in  marriage  to  him. 

Those  who  know  the  home  say  that  the  religious  atmos- 
phere, begotten  by  the  parents,  makes  a  deep  impression. 
This  is  evident  when  it  is  recorded  that  three  sons  are 
in  the  ministry  at  the  present  time.  At  fourteen,  while 
Brother  I.  B.  Ferguson  was  conducting  a  series  of  meet- 
ings in  the  Nedrow  schoolhouse,  Indian  Creek  congrega- 
tion, Grace  confessed  Christ  and  through  baptism  ad- 
ministered by  this  minister,  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  When  twenty,  she  spent  some  months  in  Pitts- 
burgh, and  delighted  in  the  church  work  she  was  permitted 
to  do  there.  Her  heart  is  united  in  the  ideals  of  her 
husband,  and  she  is  glad  to  be  in  India  with  him  in  the 
work. 


332 


Biographical 

JACOB  A.  HEPNER 
Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  1885-1887 

To  John  and  Elizabeth  (Diehl)  Hepner,  farmers,  who 
lived  in  Perry  Township,  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  was 
born  on  May  24,  1828,  their  son  Jacob  A.,  the  second  child 
in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  In  that 
early  day  common  schools  were  only  short  terms  in  the 
winter  time,  and  the  boys  did  not  get  to  go  till  all  the  fall 
work  was  completed.  While  his  education  was  limited, 
he  was  fond  of  reading,  and  acquired  a  large  general 
knowledge  of  things.  He  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life- 
time and  was  successful. 

On  September  19,  1852,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Eva,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Barbara  Flory  Nefif,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  sons  and  seven  daughters,  of  whom 
four  sons  and  four  daughters  are  still  living. 

His  parents  were  pious  people,  members  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  In  about  the  year  1853  he  and  his  wife 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Wolfe 
Creek  congregation  of  Southern  Ohio,  and  lived  faithful 
members.  Brother  Hepner  was  never  called  to  any  official 
position  in  the  church,  but  was  a  very  useful  lay-member. 
He  was  ever  ready  for  service  wherever  he  could  be  used. 
His  large  fund  of  general  information,  his  good,  practical 
common  sense,  was  needed  on  the  Book  and  Tract  Work, 
as  a  member  of  which  he  served  for  one  term.  He  died 
June  12,  1898,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Eversole  ceme- 
tery, one  mile  north  of  New  Lebanon,  Ohio, 


GEORGE  W.  HILTON 

Missionary  to  China,  1908 

George  W.  Hilton,  the  second  child  in  a  family  of  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  left  fatherless  when  he  was  eight 
years  old,  was  born  in  Benton  County,  Iowa,  on  Septem- 

333 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ber  21,  1880.  The  family  was  poor.  When  the  mother 
was  made  a  widow  she  did  not  have  $100  to  face  the  world 
and  rear  her  little  o.nes.  She  heroically  took  in  washing, 
worked  hard  and  kept  them  together  and  in  school  part 
of  the  time  until  one  winter,  when,  because  of  sickness, 
George  and  two  others  were  taken  to  the  Christian  Home 
in  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  The  children  did  not  like  the 
treatment,  ran  away,  were  caught  by  a  policeman  and  re- 
turned, but  soon  after  were  released  to  go  home  to 
mother.  After  this,  George  hired  out  to  a  farmer  for 
board,  clothes  and  schooling,  and  continued  in  his  employ 
for  four  years.  He  made  splendid  progress  in  school  dur- 
ing this  time.  But  because  of  the  mother  moving  fre- 
quently, George  was  not  permitted  to  take  high  school 
work.  Instead,  he  worked  a  while  on  the  farm,  then 
cooked  in  a  lunch  room,  did  carpenter  work,  was  a  la- 
borer in  a  nursery,  then  worked  in  the  coal-sheds  and 
roundhouse  of  a  railroad,  became  a  fireman  on  the  rail- 
road, and  later  on,  learned  the  baker's  trade, — any  work 
to  make  a  living.  In  1901  he  took  up  a  homestead  in 
North  Dakota  and  the  following  winter  worked  in  a  bak- 
ery in  Carrington,  North  Dakota.  Here  he  first  came  in 
contact  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

At  Carrington  he  also  met  Blanche  Cover  and  on  June 
30,  1902,  they  were  united  in  marriage.  To  them  has 
been  born  one  son. 

George's  parents  had  not  confessed  Christ  yet  when  he 
was  born.  But  when  he  was  eleven,  his  widowed  mother, 
a  brother  and  himself  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church. 
The  mother  set  a  good  example  to.  her  children  from  that 
time  on.  While  at  Carrington  George  became  interested 
in  the  Brethren,  and  in  April,  1902,  united  with  the  church, 
David  Niccum  administering  baptism.  This  changed  his 
plans  in  life.  The  homestead  was  sold  and  he  and  his 
wife  went  to  McPherson  College,  McPherson,  Kansas, 
to  get  a  Bible  education.  One  year  there  and  he  offered 
himself  as  a  missionary  to  China,  and  was  accepted  on 
condition  of  further  preparation.  He  attended  Bethany 
Bible  School  the  next  year.    He  spent  his  vacations  and 

334 


Biographical 

other  time   in   giving  mission   talks   and   holding   revival 
meetings. 

In  1908  he  went  to  China  with  the  first  missionary 
party  and  was  quite  successful  both  in  language  study 
and  work  among  the  people;  but  in  1910  he  was  com- 
pelled to  come  home  for  an  operation.  As  soon  as  he 
was  able,  he  was  out  among  the  churches  in  active  work. 
While  on  this  furlough,  the  Surrey  congregation,  of 
North  Dakota,  consented  to  his  ordination,  which  was 
attended  to  on  August  4,  1911,  by  the  laying  on  of  hands 
by  brethren  D.  W.  Shock  and  D.  F.  Landis.  He  returned 
with  the  mission  party  in  1911,  and  is  located  at  Liao 
Chou,  in  Shansi  Province.  At  the  close  of  the  war  in 
China  he  made  a  tour  southward  and  gathered  a  number 
of  orphan  children,  thus  beginning  the  work  of  the  or- 
phanage in  China  for  the  Brethren. 


MRS.  GEORGE  W.  HILTON,  NEE  BLANCHE  COVER 
Missionary  to  China,  1908 

To  J.  H.  and  Anna  C.  (Baker)  Cover,  who  were  residing 
near  Paola,  Kansas,  was  born  their  daughter  Blanche 
on  August  20,  1881.  She  is  the  second  child  in  a  family  of 
one  son  and  three  daughters.  Her  parents  were  active 
members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  When  Blanche 
was  six  years  old,  the  family  moved  to  Warrensburg, 
Missouri.  Here  she  availed  herself  of  the  public  school. 
At  sixteen  the  family  moved  to  New  Rockford,  North  Da- 
kota, and  in  a  short  time  after  located  at  Carrington, 
North  Dakota,  where  they  could  have  the  fellowship  of 
the  Brethren.  At  seventeen,  Blanche  took  the  position 
of  a  servant  girl  in  a  hotel,  in  order  to  make  her  own  liv- 
ing. She  did  not  like  the  environment,  however,  and  ac- 
cepted a  place  in   a   bakery  soon   after. 

It  was  while  living  in  Carrington  that  she  met  George 
W.  Hilton  and  on  June  30,  1902,  they  were  united  in  mar- 
riage.   To  them  has  been  born  one  son. 

335 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

When  twelve  years  old,  Blanche  responded  to  the  call 
of  the  Spirit,  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  She  was  baptized  in  the  lake,  at  Pertle 
Springs,    Missouri,    by    D.    M.    Mohler. 

She  grew  in  grace,  and  developed  a  noble  Christian 
character  as  she  matured  into  womanhood.  After  her 
marriage  she  united  her  heart  and  all  with  the  church  and 
the  missionary  purposes  of  her  husband.  While  they  were 
at  school  in  Chicago,  she  was  a  teacher  in  three  different 
Chinese  Sunday-schools,  and  became  much  attached  to 
the  Chinese  type  of  life.  It  is  a  joy  to  her  to  be  of  serv- 
ice in  China,  and  she  has  had  good  health  while  in  the 
service  there. 


IDA  HIMMELSBAUGH 
Missionary  to  India,  1908 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  May  10,  1874, 
near  Mattawana,  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania.  The  par- 
ents were  in  rather  limited  circumstances,  did  not  have 
rugged  health  and  with  the  large  family  it  meant  every 
possible  effort  for  each  one  of  them,  in  order  to  make  a 
comfortable  living.  Ida  took  advantage  of  all  the  public 
school  training  she  could  get.  After  she  reached  young 
womanhood  she  entered  Juniata  College,  Huntingdon, 
Pennsylvania,  Later  she  entered  a  nurses'  training  hos- 
pital in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  she  remained  two  years. 
Thus  prepared  she  entered  the  mission  field  of  India  as 
the  first  nurse  in  the  force  of  missionaries  from  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 

Ida's  parents  were  earnest  Christians  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  At  fifteen  Ida  confessed  Christ  and 
united  with  the  same  denomination;  but  she  did  not  find 
the  peace  her  heart  longed  for.  Soon  after,  she  spent  an 
hour  reading  the  Bible  to  an  old,  blind  colored  woman, 
and  through  this,  light  and  peace  came  to  heT.     She  was 

336 


Plate    11 


Opposite    336 


Chas.    H.    Brubaker  Mrs.    I.    S.    Long      I.   S.   Long 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  J.  M.  Pittenger     Mr.  &   Mrs.   S.   P.   Berkebile 
Mrs.  Ella  B.  Brubaker       A.  W.   Ross  Mrs.    A.    W.    Ross 


Biographical 

liring  in  AItcK)na,  Pennsylvania,  in  1896,  when,  under  the 
pastoral  leading  of  J.  W.  Wilt,  she  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  Brother  Wilt  administering  baptism. 
This  gave  her  new  aspirations.  She  entered  the  home  of 
J.  B.  Brumbaugh,  of  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
received  much  encouragement  in  the  divine  life.  The  spir- 
itual atmosphere  of  Juniata  College  she  much  enjoyed. 
While  there,  she  worked  at  whatever  her  hands  found 
to  do,  to  help  her  through  schooL 

In  India  she  has  been  a  busy  worker.  Her  services 
are  much  in  demand,  and  it  is  her  delight  to  heal  the  body, 
and  point  the  soul  to  the  loving  Lord.  She  is  now  located 
at  Ankleshwer. 


QXnNCY  A.  HOLSOPPLE 

Missionary  to  India,  1911 

Joseph  Holsopple.  of  German  descent,  was  bom  and 
raised  on  his  father's  farm  near  Windber,  Somerset  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  made  farming  his  life  occupation. 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Christian  Lehman,  first  bishop  of 
Shade  Creek  congregation,  also  of  German  descent,  who 
became  his  wife  on  March  4,  1860,  was  bom  and  raised 
on  a  farm  near  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania.  Both  united 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  June,  1860,  and  on 
June  9,  1892,  Joseph  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the 
laying  on  of  hands  by  George  Hanawalt  and  David  Hilde- 
brand.  To  them  were  given  eleven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Quincy  Adams,  the  youngest,  being  bom  on  Novem- 
ber 7,  1885.  He  had  the  privileges  of  a  good  country- 
school  and  made  good  use  of  them.  When  old  enough  he 
entered  the  Preparatory  Department  of  Juniata  College, 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  and  pursued  the  course  of 
study  until  he  completed  with  the  degree  of  A,  B.  in  the 
class  of  1910.  During  this  time  he  taught  one  year  in  the 
home  school  and  spent  two  years  on  the  linotype  ma- 
chines, first  in  the  l.rethren  Publishing  House.  Elgin,  Illi- 

337 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

nois,  and  then  in  the  Methodist  Book  Concern,  of  Chicago. 
In  the  fall  of  1910  he  was  science  teacher  in  the  faculty 
of  the  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  high  school;  but  re- 
signed in  favor  of  preparing  for  mission  w^ork  at  the  in- 
vitation of  the  General  Mission  Board. 

On  July  12,  1911,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Kathren 
Royer. 

Joseph  Holsopple  and  his  faithful  companion  have 
served  the  church  long  and  well  in  the  ministry,  and  it  is 
no  surprise,  then,  to.  record  that  five  of  their  sons  are  min- 
isters while  some  are  serving  in  other  official  capacities 
in  the  church.  Quincy,  early  in  life,  responded  to  the  call 
of  the  Master.  When  fourteen  years  old,  he  confessed 
Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  dur- 
ing a  series  of  meetings,  conducted  by  Chas.  O.  Beery  in 
the  Manor  congregation,  baptism  being  administered  by 
Brother  Beery.  In  1906  the  Elgin  congregation  of  North- 
ern Illinois,  called  him  to  the  ministry,  and  in  1908  ad- 
vanced him  to  the  second  degree. 

He  was  approved  by  the  Conference  of  1911  and  sailed 
that  fall  for  India.  He  is  located  at  Ankleshwer  and  has 
proven  himself  a  capable  man,  as  far  as  he  has  been  pre- 
pared for  the  work  there, 


MRS.  QUINCY  A.  HOLSOPPLE,  NEE  KATHREN 

ROYER 

Missionary  to  India,  1911 

To  Galen  B.  and  Anna  Miller  Royer  were  born  two 
sons  and  four  daughters.  Kathren,  the  third  child,  glad- 
dened their  home  in  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  on  November  2, 
1892.  She  came  with  the  family  to  Elgin,  Illinois,  on 
April  1,  1899,  and  entered  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
She  graduated  in  the  four  years'  high  school  course  in 
the  class  of  1910. 

On  July  12,  1911,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Quincy 
A.  Holsopple. 

338 


Biographical 

From  childhood,  as  soon  as  old  enough,  Kathren  was  a 
regular  attendant  at  Sunday-school;  on  May  11,  1902,  be- 
fore she  was  ten  years  old,  she  confessed  Christ  and  united 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Elgin  congrega- 
tion, her  father  administering  baptism  to  herself  and  Perry 
and  Mary  Culley,  children  of  Mrs.  Barbara  Mohler  Cul- 
ley.  When  she  volunteered,  she  was  teacher  in  the  Sun- 
day-school. In  1909  she  graduated  with  the  class  that 
completed  the  teacher-training  course.  After  her  ap- 
pointment to  India,  at  the  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  Annual 
Meeting  of  1911,  she  began,  and  has  almost  completed 
through  correspondence,  the  "  Nurses'  Training  Course 
of  the  Chautauqua  School  of  Nursing."  During  her  sec- 
ond year  in  India  she  Is  located  with  her  husband  at 
Ankleshwer,  doing  for  her  Master  and  the  work  the 
best  she  can. 


SAMUEL  W.  HOOVER 

Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  1885-1894 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1893-1895 

To  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  tCripe)  Hoover,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania-Dutch descent,  was  born  one  son,  Samuel  W.  The 
family  lived  near  Liberty,  west  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  at  the 
time,  were  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and 
in  limited  circumstances.  Samuel  had  few  educational 
advantages,  plenty  of  hard  work  on  the  farm,  and  came 
to  manhood  without  much  promise  of  a  large  usefulness. 
On  March  1,  1869,  he  went  into  business  for  himself  in 
a  small  nursery.  He  prospered,  and  ten  years  later 
formed  a  partnership  under  the  name  "  Hoover  and 
Gaines,"  enlarged  the  nursery  and  located  nearer  Dayton. 
The  business  continued  to  grow  and  a  stock  company  was 
formed  in  1882,  with  Samuel  W.  Hoover  as  its  president. 
In  this  position  he  continued  to  the  close  of  life. 

On  January  26,  1860,  Bro.  Hoover  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Catherine  Bashor,  likewise  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  descent.     To  them  were  given  three  sons. 

339 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Before  leaving  his  home,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  Sam- 
uel confessed  Christ  as  his  Savior.  He  threw  his  whole 
heart  into  service  for  his  Master.  On  August  16,  1882, 
the  Lower  Stillwater  congregation  called  him  to  the  min- 
istry. In  private  and  in  public  he  favored  Sunday-schools 
when  there  were  none  in  the  District,  and  also  urged  re- 
vivals and  missionary  work.  Largely  through  his  lead- 
ership a  churchhouse  was  built  in  West  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
dedicated  on  September  15,  1889.  He  was  the  logical 
pastor,  gave  the  flock  his  best  attention,  and  delighted 
to  see  it  increase  as  it  did.  In  1884  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  Conference  held 
near  his  home. 

Perhaps  his  greatest  service  was  in  the  Book  and  Tract 
Work.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  during  its 
existence,  and  its  hustling  President.  The  life  and  en- 
ergy which  the  Work  manifested,  was  largely  due  to  his 
push.  In  the  consolidation  he  was  a  member  of  the  new 
Board,  served  a  short  term,  and  was  elected  for  a  full 
term.  During  the  first  year  of  the  full  term,  after  attend- 
ing a  meeting  of  the  Board  in  Virginia,  he  was  preach- 
ing on  Sunday  evening,  March  10,  1895,  in  the  home  pul- 
pit, when  his  spirit  was  called  to  the  better  world.  Be- 
fore his  congregation  realized  what  had  happened,  he 
was  not.  His  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Ft.  McKinley 
cemetery,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

EMMA  HORNING 

Missionary  to  China,  1908 

Samuel  H.  Horning  and  his  wife,  Hannah  Horning, 
granddaughter  of  David  Rittenhouse,  of  considerable  note, 
were  reared  in  godly  homes  and  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  On  Sep- 
tember 9,  1876,  Emma  was  born.  She  is  the  oldest  living 
child,  and  has  one  sister  and  three  brothers  living.  She 
grew  up  in  the  home,  was  constantly  in  school  after  she 
reached  the  school  age,  began  teaching  common  school 

340 


Biographical 

at  seventeen,  and  continued  eight  years.  In  1897  she  en- 
tered Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  and  con- 
tinued two  years  there.  Then  she  spent  four  years  in 
McPherson  College,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1906.  Dur- 
ing this  time  she  also  completed  a  Bible  course. 

She  recalls  how  her  mother,  through  her  childhood,  told 
her  Bible  stories  at  twilight,  and  how  unconsciously  this 
moulded  her  young  life  for  missionary  service.  In  the 
Willow  Creek  congregation,  South  Dakota,  she  confessed 
Christ  and  was  baptized  in  August,  1891,  by  Morgan 
Mansfield.  At  fourteen  she  was  a  teacher  of  a  Sunday- 
school  class  and  has  ever  since  been  a  willing  worker 
in  any  department  of  church  activities  where  she  could 
be  used. 

At  the  Springfield,  Illinois,  Conference  of  1906  she  was 
approved  as  a  missionary  to  China,  but  was  not  permitted 
to   go  till   in    1908. 

On  the  field,  after  acquiring  the  language,  her  work  has 
been  among  the  women  and  children  in  Ping  Ting  Chou 
and  the  villages  round  about.  She  visited  homes,  taught 
in  school,  and  conducted  Bible  classes,  also  assisting  in 
opium  refuge  work.  Her  health  failing  in  the  early  spring 
of  1912,  she  returned  home  on  sick  furlough,  passed 
through  a  surgical  operation  and  now  hopes  to  return 
to  her  chosen  field  of  labor  with  the  mission  party  sail- 
ing in  the  fall  of  1913. 


ANNA  M.  HUTCHISON 

Missionary  to  China,  1911 

On  a  homestead  among  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  near 
Oak  Hill,  Fayette  County,  West  Virginia,  lived  James 
and  Susanna  Sanger  Hutchison.  James'  parents  were  of 
English  and  Irish  descent.  His  father,  and  also  four  of 
his  brothers,  were  earnest  ministers  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Andrew  Hutchison,  so  well  known  as  a  leading 
evangelist  in  his  day,  is  one  of  the  brothers.     Susanna's 

341 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

parents,  Henry  and  Susan  Miller  Sanger,  were  of  German 
descent  and  faithful  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  also.  To  this  godly  couple  were  given  three 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  Anna  M.,  born  on  September 
10,  1876,  being  the  fourth  child.  Her  early  education  was 
received  in  the  Salem  schoolhouse,  located  on  her  father's 
farm.  When  fifteen,  the  family  moved  to  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Maryland,  and  located  near  Eston,  in  Talbot 
County,  where  they  now  reside.  In  the  beginning  of  1903 
she  entered  Blue  Ridge  College  at  Union  Bridge,  Mary- 
land, and  in  three  years  completed  the  Bible  Course. 
The  institution  paid  her  the  compliment  of  employing  her 
as  a  teacher  in  the  Bible  Department,  which  position  she 
filled  acceptably  for  four  years,  quitting  it  only  to  prepare 
herself  further  for  usefulness.  The  next  two  years  she 
spent  in  Bethany  Bible  School,  Chicago,  Illinois,  where 
she  continued  her  Bible  study  with  thoroughness  and  great 
enjoyment. 

When  twelve  years  old,  she  went  about  her  Master's 
business  with  a  whole  heart.  In  the  Chestnut  Grove  con- 
gregation. West  Virginia,  she  confessed  Christ  and  united 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  baptism  being  admin- 
istered by  her  father.  Her  life  has  blessed  others,  as  she 
firmly,  and  yet  gently,  stood  for  Christ,  studied  for  Christ 
and  taught  for  Christ.  With  her  it  was  a  privilege  to  be 
permitted  to  go  to  China,  the  desire  being  crystallized  in 
her  heart  while  at  Bethany,  and  she  is  happy  in  witnessing 
and  serving  at  Liao  Chou,  in  the  Shansi  Province  of 
China. 


JOHN  I.  KAYLOR 

Missionary  to  India,  1911 

Joseph  and  Nancy  Kaylor,  prosperous  farmers  living 
near  DeGrafiF,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  were  members  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  to  them  was  born  but  one 
child,  John  I.,  on  April  14,  1884.    He,  however,  has  a  half 

342 


Biographical 

sister,  Mrs.  P.  B.  Fitzwater,  of  Chicago.  John  pushed 
through  the  grades  of  the  country  school  and  then  the 
DeGraf?  high  school,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1904. 
After  one  year  on  the  farm,  with  his  father,  during  which 
time  he  took,  by  correspondence,  a  course  in  mechanical 
drawing,  he  entered  Manchester  College,  North  Man- 
chester, Indiana,  and  continued  until,  in  four  years,  he 
completed  the  Bible  and  Commercial  Courses.  During 
the  last  year  at  Manchester  he  was  instructor  in  me- 
chanical drawing.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  and  gave 
attention  to  farming  for  two  years. 

On  August  2,  1911,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rose 
Wagoner,  whom  he  met  at  Manchester  College. 

In  December,  1897,  when  thirteen  years  old,  during 
a  series  of  meetings,  conducted  by  Daniel  Wysong  in  the 
Logan  congregation,  John  confessed  Christ  and  united 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  In  a  few  years  he  was 
made  Sunday-school  teacher,  and  later  on  superintendent. 
He  was  also  a  willing  helper  in  the  Christian  Workers'  So- 
ciety of  the  congregation.  While  at  Manchester  he  was 
ever  ready,  in  all  Christian  activities,  to  take  his  part. 
His  delight  was  in  the  Bible  Society  programs.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  a  member  of  the  District  Mission  Board 
of  Northwestern  Ohio,  and  lectured  at  Bible  Institutes. 
He  was  approved  by  the  Conference  of  1911,  and  the 
same  fall  sailed  for  India.  He  is  located  at  Ahwa,  in  the 
Dangs  Forests,  after  having  served  his  first  year  at  Vada, 
in  the  Thana  District.  He  is  a  missionary  in  the  Marathi 
language  district,  and  has  done  well  for  the  short  time 
he  has  been  in  the  field. 


343 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 


MRS.  JOHN  I.  KAYLOR,  NEE  ROSA  BELLE 
WAGONER 

Missionary  to  India,  1911 

For  several  generations  the  ancestors  of  Andrew  and 
Susan  Hufiford  Wagoner,  farmers  living  near  Pyrmont, 
Carroll  County,  Indiana,  have  been  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  Into  their  quiet  and  Christian 
home,  on  February  5,  1885,  came  Rosa  Belle,  the  third 
child  of  a  family  of  tviro  sons  and  two  daughters.  With 
others  of  the  family  she  had  the  opportunities  of  the  pub- 
lic school  and  made  good  use  of  them.  She  was  permitted 
to  spend  one  year  in  the  Pyrmont  high  school,  and  then 
did  faithfully  the  duties  falling  to  her  in  her  home.  In 
1908  she  spent  some  time  as  caretaker  of  the  girls  in  the 
Brethren's  Orphanage  at  Mexico,  Indiana.  This  work 
she  enjoyed.  In  1909  she  entered  Manchester  College, 
North  Manchester,  Indiana,  and  pursued  a  Bible  course 
for  two  years,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1911.  While 
in  school,  she  came  in  touch  with  the  strong  missionary 
sentiment  prevailing  there,  and  consecrated  her  life  to 
such   a   service. 

On  August  2,  1911,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  John 
I.   Kaylor. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  was  early  instilled  into  her  heart 
and  at  thirteen  she  gladly  responded,  while  attending  a 
series  of  meetings  conducted  by  L.  T.  Holsinger  in  the 
Pyrmont  congregation  of  Indiana.  On  March  27,  1898, 
she  was  received  into  the  church  by  baptism  administered 
by  Bro.  Holsinger.  As  she  grew  older,  having  always 
been  a  regular  attendant  in  Sunday-school,  she  was  given 
a  class  to  teach, — a  service  which  she  did  well,  and  greatly 
enjoyed.  She  is  now  at  Ahwa,  in  the  Dangs  Forest  of 
India,  a  good  help  to  her  husband  in  the  work  he  is 
doing  for  the   church  and   the   Lord. 


344 


Biographical 

CLARENCE  W.  LAHMAN 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,   1893-1894 

Both  John  D.  and  Mary  Haughtelin  Lahman,  in  their 
respective  parental  homes  were  reared  by  God-fearing 
people.  To  them  were  born  two  children,  Clarence  on 
March  1,  1862,  and  later  a  daughter,  Vina  A.,  who  passed 
away  in  the  blossoming  of  womanhood.  The  parents 
prospered  in  business  affairs  above  the  average  and  their 
children  had  every  advantage  of  a  good  farm  home  near 
Franklin  Grove,  Lee  County,  Illinois,  where  the  family 
has  always  lived.  First  the  public  school,  and  later  the 
Academy  and  Freshman  year  at  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois,  is  the  sum  total  of  educational  training 
of  which  Clarence  availed  himself.  He  early  interested 
himself  in  his  parents'  business  interests,  and  as  age 
crept  upon  them,  took  more  specific  supervision. 

On  December  12,  1889,  Clarence  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Sister  Martha  Beery,  and  to  this  union  three  sons  and 
three  daughters  were  born. 

While  attending  Bible  school  at  Mt.  Morris  College, 
Clarence  confessed  Christ  and  was  baptized  on  January 
29,  1893,  in  his  home  congregation  by  Levi  Trostle.  He 
was  always  interested  in  and  a  regular  attendant  at  Sun- 
day-school, superintending  the  home  school  five  years, 
and  ready  to  do  his  part  as  teacher  or  officer,  as  duty 
came  to  him.  In  1900  he  was  called  to  the  deacon's  office 
but  was  not  permitted  to  serve  long,  for  in  1901  he  was 
elected  to  the  ministry.  In  1904  he  was  advanced  to  the 
second  degree  and  in  1908  ordained  to  the  bishopric. 
For  the  last  thirteen  years  he  has  been  a  trustee  of  Mt. 
Morris  College,  and  the  last  eight  years  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  is  now  a  member 
of  the  Building  Committee  rebuilding  "Old  Sandstone." 

In  1893  he  was  appointed  to  serve  on  the  General 
Mission  Board.  His  term  of  service  was  short,  not  giv- 
ing him  opportunity  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  work 

345 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

fully;  but  his  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  church  dur- 
ing this  time,  as  well  as  since  in  other  lines,  is  commend- 
able. 


JOSEPH    LEEDY 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1880  to  1884 

Samuel  and  Barbara  (Garber)  Leedy  were  industrious 
farmers,  living  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Samuel 
Driver  farm,  about  eight  miles  east  of  Staunton,  Augusta 
County,  Virginia.  Here  on  February  1,  1815,  was  born 
their  son  Joseph,  the  seventh  child  in  a  family  of  seven 
sons  and  six  daughters.  Small  were  the  educational  ad- 
vantages in  that  early  day.  Hard  work  at  making  a  liv- 
ing, with  the  limited  facilities  at  command,  was  all  a 
young  man  knew,  in  those  days.  When  Joseph  was  about 
seventeen,  he  came  west  with  his  parents  and  located  on 
a  farm  near  Eaton,  Preble  County,  Ohio.  While  living 
at  this  place,  he  was  united  in  marriage  on  April  21,  to 
Lydia  Witter,  a  woman  whose  faithfulness  and  helpful- 
ness could  not  be  excelled.  She  was  permitted  to  be  his 
helpmeet  until  February  18,  1897,  when  she  preceded  her 
husband  to  the  glory  world  but  a  few  years.  God  gave 
them  five  sons  and  thtee  daughters,  of  whom  three  sons 
and  two  daughters  are  still  living.  While  Joseph  was 
blessed  for  his  industry  in  Ohio,  he  felt  the  call  to  the 
wildwood  of  Indiana  and  on  September  7,  1853,  moved 
to  Huntington  County,  settling  on  some  land  in  the  wil- 
derness, which  afterwards  was  one  mile  south  of  An- 
tioch.  He  built  a  log  cabin,  later  on  a  large  barn,  and 
cleared  away  the  forest.  The  fertile  soil  gave  forth  in 
abundance  in  return  for  his  labors.  With  his  brother 
Abram,  who  had  joined  the  band  later,  they  laid  out  the 
town  of  Antioch,  erected  a  good  schoolhouse  and  used 
the  same  for  a  place  of  worship  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  prospered;  people  called  him  wealthy  in  those  days, 
and  yet   they  loved   him   because   of  his   generosity   and 

346 


Biographical 

spirit  of  public  enterprise.  In  1888  he  desired  to  retire 
from  the  farm,  and  moved  to  Huntington,  Indiana.  In 
1896  he  made  his  home  with  his  son  John,  in  Andrews, 
until  the  close  of  life. 

Joseph's  parents  were  godly  people,  active  members  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  It  is  not  known  when  Jo- 
seph and  his  wife  confessed  Christ,  but  presumably,  ac- 
cording to  custom  in  that  day,  some  time  after  their 
marriage.  About  1850  the  congregation  in  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  called  him  to  the  ministry.  Soon  after,  he  moved  to 
Indiana,  and  one  of  the  first  things,  after  his  cabin  was 
erected  in  the  wilderness  was,  to  call  his  neighbors  to- 
gether and  dedicate  the  home  to  the  worship  of  God. 
Here  the  people  met  to  praise  God  and  he  preached  to 
them  regularly  until,  having  built  a  large  barn,  the  serv- 
ices were  moved  there.  The  community  thought  they 
were  highly  favored  of  the  Lord  to  be  thus  permitted  to 
gather  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Later,  when  the  school- 
house  was  built  in  Antioch,  this  became  the  place  of  meet- 
ing. Soon  after  this  his  brother  John,  a  bishop  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  came  into  the  community.  The 
brothers  labored  faithfully  for  the  church;  it  rapidly  grew 
in  numbers,  and  in  1860  the  congregation  rejoiced  at  the 
dedication  of  the  first  churchhouse  in  those  parts, — a  large 
building,  well  adapted  to  the  requirements  of  that  day. 
This  house,  recently  repaired,  still  stands  as  a  monument 
of  their  labors.  The  congregation  now  grew  rapidly  and 
soon,  under  the  fostering  care  of  Brother  Joseph,  was  nu- 
merically, as  well  as  spiritually,  one  of  the  strongest  in 
the  West. 

Joseph  was  much  interested  in  general  church  work, 
attended  Annual  Meetings,  and  took  an  active  part.  He 
was  made  a  member  of  the  General  Mission  Board  of  1880. 
He  was  an  aggressive  worker,  met  much  opposition,  but 
pressed  forward  carefully  but  persistently.  In  all  his 
church  work  he  never  took  a  cent  for  his  labors  or  ex- 
penses, being  well  able  to  provide  these  himself.  In 
those  days,  when  the  Brotherhood  did  not  favor  series 
of  meetings,  he  would  go  forth,  win  souls  for  Christ,  bear 

347 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

the  reproach  for  Christ's  sake,  and  thus  many  have  lived 
and  died  in  the  faith  because  of  what  he  dared  to  do.  It 
was  on  one  of  these  preaching  tours,  holding  a  short  se- 
ries of  meetings  in  the  high  school  room  of  Burnetts 
Creek,  White  County,  Indiana,  in  February,  1874,  that, 
under  Brother  Leedy's  preaching,  the  author  confessed 
Christ. 

Brother  Leedy  was  a  man  of  rare  qualities  of  virtue. 
It  is  said  that  once  he  bought  a  team  of  horses  from  a 
neighbor,  paying  the  man  his  price.  After  taking  them 
home  and  hitching  them  up  the  next  morning,  he  con- 
cluded he  did  not  pay  enough  and  went  to  his  neighbor 
and  gave  him  $25  more.  The  act  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion. During  the  late  Civil  War  he  paid  the  fines  for 
poor  brethren,  telling  them  that,  if  they  ever  got  able, 
they  might  pay  back  a  portion  of  it.  He  never  asked  any 
of  them  for  what  he  had  advanced,  and  few,  if  any,  ever 
felt  able  to  return  the  money  thus  advanced. 

He  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-eight,  never  los- 
ing interest  in  the  work  of  the  church.  He  was  an  able 
and  ready  defender  of  the  faith,  and  closed  his  eyes  in  a 
peaceful  death  on  January  13,  1903.  His  body  was  laid 
to  rest  in  the  cemetery  near  Antioch,  while  his  godly  life 
is  still  fresh  in  the  memory  of  those  who  knew  him. 


DANIEL  J.  LICHTY 

Missionary  to  India,  1902 

Back  in  the  fifties  of  the  last  century  D.  J.  Lichty's 
grandparents  emigrated  from  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Blackhawk  County,  Iowa,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  south  of  Waterloo.  There,  too,  about  the  same 
time,  came  the  family  of  Brother  Lichty's  mother.  His 
mother's  name  was  Sarah  Hoover.  Both  families  have 
been  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  farmers 
for  generations.  Daniel  was  the  fifth  child  in  a  family  of 
three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

348 


Biographical 

Daniel  began  life  on  February  1,  1878.  When  four 
years  old,  his  father  died,  leaving  his  mother  to  care  for 
the  family  on  the  farm.  He  attended  country  school,  but 
when  old  enough  helped  on  the  farm  and  took  advantage 
of  the  winter  school  only. 

When  only  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  confessed  Christ 
during  a  series  of  meetings  held  in  the  South  Waterloo 
church  by  J.  G.  Royer,  at  that  time  President  of  Mt. 
Morris  College.  From  the  beginning  he  took  an  active 
part  in  Sunday-school  and  Christian  Workers'  meetings. 
By  means  of  the  Missionary  Reading  Circle  his  interest 
in  missions  was  first  aroused. 

In  the  fall  of  1897  he  entered  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois,  and  in  four  years  finished  the  Academic 
Course.  His  work  showed  steady  excellence  that  betok- 
ened hard  work.  He  was  active  in  church  work,  deeply 
interested  in  the  work  of  the  missionary  society  and  in 
the  spring  of  1901  the  Mt.  Morris  congregation  called 
him  to  the  ministry. 

Daniel  heeded  the  call  to  the  foreign  field  and  was  sent 
out  in  1902.  After  acquiring  the  language,  he  was  located 
at  Umalla  and  by  patient  effort  developed  a  very  prac- 
tical working  mission  station.  Along  with  preaching  the 
Gospel,  he  is  directing  industrial  farming  and  teaching 
the  native  how  to  be  self-supporting. 

On  October  20,  1904,  Daniel  and  Sister  Nora  Arnold 
were  united  in  marriage  at  Bulsar,  India.  They  had  their 
first  furlough  during  1909  and  1910  and  are  now  busily 
pushing  the  mission  at  Umalla. 


MRS.  DANIEL  J.  LICHTY,  NEE  NORA  ARNOLD 

Missionary  to  India,  1903 

Bringing  with  her  many  of  the  sturdy  German  charac- 
teristics, Nora  Arnold  began  life  with  a  goodly  heritage. 
Her  father,  John  Arnold,  is  a  bishop  residing  at  Lintner, 
Illinois.     Her  mother,  Mary  Hendricks,  was  a  daughter  of 

349 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Joseph  Hendricks,  an  active  and  leading  bishop  of  South- 
ern Illinois. 

Nora  gladdened  the  home  of  her  parents  on  January  17, 
18S0.  She  spent  her  childhood  on  her  father's  farm  and 
because  he  had  no  sons,  developed  a  strong  physique  by 
working  in  the  field  by  her  father's  side.  At  the  age  of 
ten,  her  mother  died,  and  the  blessed  influence  of  her  life 
was  greatly  missed  ever  afterwards.  After  finishing  the 
common  schools,  she  spent  one  and  a  half  years  in  Man- 
chester College,  North  Manchester,  Indiana.  For  some 
reason  she  changed  to  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris, 
Illinois,  where  she  finished  the  Academic  course  in  1901. 
She  was  active  in  literary  and  Bible  societies,  and  a  lead- 
er in  the  Missionary  Reading  Circle.  It  was  during  these 
college  days  that  her  earlier  ambitions  to  be  a  missionary 
were  crystallized. 

At  the  age  of  twelve,  while  attending  a  series  of  meet- 
ings in  Cerro  Gordo,  Illinois,  conducted  by  L.  T.  Hol- 
singer,  Nora  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Geo. 
W.  Cripe  administering  the  rite  of  baptism.  Her  delight 
was  in  the  Lord,  and  it  was  her  joy  to  be  found  in  his 
sanctuary.  Faithful  in  attendance  at  Sunday-school  until 
old  enough  to  teach,  a  teacher  who  won  the  hearts  of  her 
scholars,  and  an  humble  but  earnest  witness  for  Christ 
wherever  she  went, — there  were  manifest  in  her  life  those 
characteristics  that  made  it  no  surprise  that  she  should 
offer  herself  to  the  mission  field,  and  that  the  Board 
should  choose  her  to  go.  Her  taste  of  working  among 
the  lowly,  if  but  for  a  few  weeks  in  Chicago,  while  Sister 
Cora  Cripe  was  taking  a  vacation,  only  increased  her  de- 
sire for  such  service. 

On  the  field  she  was  married  to  Daniel  J.  Lichty  on 
October  20,  1904.  In  the  early  part  of  1904  she  had  a 
prolonged  attack  of  sickness.  The  doctors  in  Bombay 
told  her  to  arrange  to  hurry  home  or  she  would  die  before 
she  reached  her  friends.  Her  heroic  reply  was,  "I  came 
to  India  to  work  for  Jesus,  and  to  die  here  if  it  is  the 
Lord's  will."  She  recovered  and  is  a  faithful  helpmeet  to 
her  husband  at  Umalla. 

350 


Biographical 

ISAAC   S.   LONG 
Missionary  to  India,  1903 

To  William  H.  and  his  wife  Eliza  (Carpenter)  Long-, 
well-to-do  farmers  living  in  the  Mill  Creek  congregation, 
Rockingham  County,  Virginia,  on  May  13,  1875,  was  born 
a  son  whom  they  called  Isaac.  He  was  the  fourth  child 
in  a  family  of  eight  children.  He  inherited  the  rich  blood 
of  a  vigorous  German  parentage,  an  industrious  and  per- 
severing people.  From  a  child,  Isaac  had  a  fondness  for 
books,  and  while  willing  to  do  his  share  of  the  work,  was 
ever  ready  to  labor  by  proxy,  and  spend  his  time  in  read- 
ing. He  enjoyed  his  country  school-days,  and  planned 
large  things  for  himself  in  life. 

But  the  Lord  had  a  work  for  Isaac  to  do,  and  when 
the  call  came  at  fifteen,  through  the  earnest  preaching  of 
S.  F.  Sanger,  in  a  series  of  meetings  in  the  home  congre- 
gation, Isaac  gave  his  heart  to  God  on  January  28,  1891, 
and  faced  about.  He  turned  his  whole  being  into  service 
in  the  cause  which  had  brought  so  much  joy  to  his  heart. 
Thus  it  was  that  the  Mill  Creek  congregation,  noting  his 
devotion,  called  him  to  the  ministry  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
1895,  when  he  was  but  twenty  years  old.  This  made  an- 
other great  change  in  his  life  purposes.  He  now  entered 
Bridgewater  College,  took  a  deep  interest  in  all  its  re- 
ligious privileges,  while  still  being  faithful  to  his  studies, 
and  completed  the  course.  Then  he  entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia,  paying  his  way  through  school  by  sell- 
ing Bibles,  even  when  his  father  offered  to  pay  his  school- 
ing. He  united  with  other  brethren  in  starting  a  school 
at  Union  Bridge, — the  institution  now  located  at  New 
Windsor,  Maryland,  Here  he  taught  for  two  years. 
When  S.  N.  McCann  was  sent  to  India,  in  1897,  Isaac 
was  at  that  age  when  deep  impressions  were  made.  "  All 
Virginia  loved  Brother  McCann,"  and  as  he  left  loved 
ones,  deep  impressions  were  made  in  the  young  min- 
ister's mind.  W.  B.  Stover  held  meetings  at  Bridge- 
water,  while  Bro.  Long  was  in  college,  and  this  brought 

351 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

another  deeper  impression,  so  that,  when  the  call  came 
to  go  to  India,  Isaac  was  ready. 

Just  a  couple  weeks  before  sailing  to  India,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Sister  Effie  Showalter,  who  has 
been  a  splendid  helpmeet  to  him.  To  them  have  been  born 
three  children,  the  last  one  while  home  on  furlough. 

In  his  ministry  Isaac  has  been  successful.  He  held  a 
number  of  revival  meetings,  at  which  the  ingathering  was 
large.  Just  before  sailing  he  held  a  meeting  in  the  home 
congregation,  where  a  large  number  united  with  the 
church. 

On  the  field,  Isaac  carried  his  share  of  the  load  with 
becoming  manliness.  He  has  been  a  good  counselor,  has 
served  a  number  of  years  on  the  Field  Committee,  and  was 
Treasurer  of  the  mission  for  a  number  of  years.  His 
first  station  was  Jalalpor;  later  he  located  at  Pimpalner. 

On  his  furlough,  in  1912-1913,  he  did  some  splendid  cam- 
paigning for  missions  in  different  parts  of  Old  and  New 
Virginia.  Before  returning  to  India,  he  held  another  re- 
vival meeting  in  the  home  congregation  with  a  large  in- 
gathering as  the  result. 


MRS.  ISAAC   S.   LONG,  NEE  EFFIE   SHOWALTER 

Missionary  to  India/ 1903 

Effie  Showalter,  born  September  25,  1875,  was  the  fifth 
child  in  a  family  of  eight  girls  and  three  boys.  Her  fa- 
ther, Peter  Showalter,  and  her  mother,  Magdalene  (Heat- 
wole)  Showalter,  were  of  Swiss  and  German  descent, 
respectively.  They  lived  on  the  farm,  the  old  homestead, 
a  spot  dear  to  all  their  children.  Effie  delighted  in  at- 
tending school,  pursued  her  studies  through  the  years 
and,  after  one  term  at  a  Normal,  was  teaching  an  un- 
graded school.  A  first  grade  certificate  must  be  had,  and 
onward  she  pressed.  In  1896  she  entered  college  at 
Bridgewater,  and  in  two  years  finished  the  English  Course. 
Teaching  three  years  near  home,  she  answered  a  call  to 

352 


Plate    12 


Opposite    352 


Emma   Horning  Geo.    W.    Hilton  Mrs.   Geo.   W.   Hilton 

Mr.   (S:   Mrs.    F.   H.    Crum  packer  Mr.    &   Mrs.   E.   H.    Eby 

Josepliine    Powell  Ida  Himmelsbaugh        Kathryn    Ziegler 


Biographical 

teach  in  a  Reformatory  School  near  Baltimore.  During 
the  Holidays  she  returned  home,  and  heard  W.  B.  Stover 
speak  on  missions. 

On  December  13,  1892,  she  and  her  sister  confessed 
Christ  and  united  with  the  church  in  baptism.  Missions 
now  had  a  new  meaning  to  her.  One  impression  after 
another  was  deepened  until  she  found  herself  ready  to 
go. 

On  October  6,  1903,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Isaac 
S.  Long,  and  unitedly  they  joined  their  forces  on  the 
foreign    field. 

On  the  field  Sister  Effie  has  proved  a  great  help  in  the 
work.  Her  services  in  the  home  as  well  as  away  from 
home  have  been  appreciated.  While  her  husband  was 
opening  the  station  in  Pimpalner,  she  remained  and  cared 
for  the  home  at  Jalalpor.  God  has  blessed  her  and  her 
husband  with  three  darling  children,  who  accompanied 
them  back  to  India  at  the  close  of  their  furlough  in  May, 
1913. 


SAMUEL  N.  McCANN 
Missionary  to  India,  1897  to  1907 

The  surroundings  of  the  home  into  which  Samuel  came 
at  his  birth,  on  December  15,  1858,  were  common  for 
that  community,  but  not  common  to  those  whose  lives 
are  recorded  in  this  volume.  His  father,  S.  B.  McCann, 
made  no  profession  of  Christianity;  his  mother,  Roxanna 
Gould,  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  His  home  was  in  the  mountains  of  Upshur 
County,  West  Virginia,  about  eight  miles  from  postoffice, 
store  and  doctor.  Its  furnishings  were  meagre  and  crude; 
the  struggle  for  a  living  was  hard;  the  opportunities  for 
an  education  were  scanty;  yet,  in  spite  of  all  this,  Samuel, 
with  a  determination  to  succeed  on  one  hand  and  a  de- 
sire to  do  right  on  the  other,  though  he  often  groped 
along   in   ignorance   and   error,   humbly   pressed    forward 

353 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

until  he  occupies  a  place  among  his  fellows  unique  and 
leading.  By  hard  effort  he  secured  a  third-grade  certifi- 
cate, arid  he  taught  his  first  term  of  school  when  eight- 
een years  old.  He  pursued  school-teaching  in  the  win- 
ter, and  worked  hard  on  the  farm  during  each  summer, 
but  one,  spent  in  an  academy.  He  saved  every  cent  and 
wore  his  mother's  homespun  clothes  until  the  spring  term 
of  1880,  when,  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age  he  had 
$140  cash  on  hand,  and  was  ready  to  go  away  to  school. 
He  decided  upon  Juniata,  at  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania, 
walked  fifty  miles  to  Grafton,  West  Virginia,  to  the  rail- 
road, and  finished  the  Normal  English  Course  with  credit, 
in  the  class  of  1883.  During  his  vacation  he  sold  wall 
maps,  and  thus  earned  enough,  along  with  his  economy, 
that,  at  the  close  of  school,  he  had  about  the  same  amount 
of  money  he  had  when  he  entered.  In  1885  he  became  a 
member  of  the  faculty  at  Bridgewater  College,  Bridge- 
water,  Virginia,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Then  he 
answered  the  call  of  the  frontier  and  preached  the  Gospel 
nearly  every  day  for  three  years  in  Southern  Missouri  and 
the  Arkansas  mission  field.  It  was  a  period  of  great 
experiences,  much  heart-searching,  and  severe  trial. 
Malaria  drove  him  back  to  the  mountains,  where  he  en- 
tered upon  Christian  work  with  new  zest.  In  the  fall  of 
1890  he  again'  became  a  member  of  the  faculty  at  Bridge- 
water,  which  position  he  held  until  his  call  to  India.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  had  two  years'  leave  of  absence,  to  pre- 
pare for  Bible  teaching,  and  spent  the  time  in  the  Bap- 
tist Theological  Seminary,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  In 
1897  his  plans  were  abruptly  changed  by  accepting  the 
call  of  the  General  Mission  Board  to  go  to  India. 

After  acquiring  the  language  in  India,  Brother  McCann 
was  stationed  at  Ankleshwer,  where  he  conducted  Bible 
teaching,  preaching,  visiting  among  the  Bhils,  especially 
in  Rajpipla  State,  with  unusual  success.  At  his  station, 
for  a  number  of  years,  were  a  large  number  of  converts, 
and  the  memory  of  these  blessed  days  still  clings  to 
Brother    McCann.     In    March,    1904,   when    the    bubonic 

354 


Biographical 

plague  broke  out  and  many  native  residents  left  Ankle- 
shwer,  he,  assisted  part  of  the  time  by  D.  J.  Lichty  and 
wife,  and  Dr.  Yereman,  who  cared  for  the  boys  and  seg- 
regated any  that  had  symptoms  of  plague,  remained  fear- 
lessly at  his  post,  and  cared  for  the  sick  and  dying  during 
that  dread  time;  and  though  pestilence  and  death  were 
about  him,  no  harm  befell  him.  In  1907  he  and  his  fam- 
ily returned  home  on  furlough,  by  the  Pacific,  and  visited 
missions  in  China  to  some  extent.  Upon  his  arrival  in 
America,  he  spent  part  of  his  time  as  Traveling  Secre- 
tary for  the  General  Mission  Board,  preaching  missionary 
sermons  and  securing  endowments.  In  this  he  was  quite 
successful.  The  College  at  Bridgewater,  Virginia,  needed 
his  help  to  lift  a  school  debt.  Throwing  his  energies  into 
that  task,  Bro.  McCann  succeeded  in  the  work.  He  then 
accepted  the  position  of  teacher  in  the  Bible  Department, 
where  he  is  now  laboring. 

In  India  Brother  McCann  contracted  a  disease  of  the 
bowels  because  of  which  he  has  been  a  great  sufferer 
ever  since.  He  has  stood  some  severe  operations,  has 
not  found  permanent  relief  yet,  and  many  a  man  would 
have  given  up,  but  not  Brother  McCann. 

The  spiritual  impressions  of  his  mother,  upon  his  early 
life,  prompted  him  to  give  his  heart  to  the  Lord,  and 
unite  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Indian 
Camp  congregation,  of  West  Virginia,  in  the  summer  of 
1872,  when  nearly  fourteen  years  old,  Elias  Auvil  ad- 
ministered the  rite  of  baptism.  His  training  in  things 
religious,  outside  of  his  home,  up  to  this  time,  was  mainly 
a  union  Sunday-school  which,  he  claims,  was  a  great 
blessing  in  his  life.  At  Juniata  College  he  was  ever  ready 
to  do  his  part  in  prayer  meeting,  or  elsewhere  in  religious 
work.  His  religious  experience,  first  along  the  line  of 
"good  works"  being  a  saving  power  in  the  plan  of  salva- 
tion, caused  him  to  question  greatly  whether  even  in  his 
obedience  in  baptism  he  had  followed  the  Lord  accept- 
ably. Once  he  sought  rebaptism.  Finally  the  whole 
subject  was  cleared   up   to   him   and   in   grateful   remem- 

355 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

brance  of  it  all  he  wrote  that  wonderful  little  volume, 
"Christ  Our  Righteousness."  That  volume  has  been  a 
blessing  to  many.  In  1913  he  sent  forth  another  volume, 
this  time  on  "The  Beatitudes,"  another  deeply  spiritual 
message. 

He  represented  his  District  on  the  Standing  Commit- 
tee, and  was  Writing  Clerk  of  the  Annual  Meeting  of 
1913,  this  being  the  second  time  he  has  rendered  such 
service  to  the  General  Brotherhood. 

While  he  has  a  good  position  at  Bridgewater,  Virginia, 
he  recently  expressed  himself  that  even  in  poor  health 
he  would  be  willing  to  return  to  India,  if  the  B©ard 
would  send  him. 


MRS.  S.  N.  McCANN,  NEE  ELIZABETH   GIBBEL 
Missionary  to  India,  1897-1907 

Having  parentage  of  German  descent,  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Brethren,  John  B.  Gibbel  and  Elizabeth 
(Mohler)  Royer  were  married  September  20,  1855.  Both 
had  waited  until  after  this  event,  as  was  then  the  cus- 
tom, to  unite  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  To  them 
were  born  five  children, — four  sons, — and  then  Elizabeth, 
the  youngest,  gladdened  the  home  on  March  14,  1868,  on 
the  farm  near  Lititz,  Pennsylvania. 

Elizabeth  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  the  common  school 
and  an  active  lif.;  on  the  farm,  and  thus  grew  to  young 
womanhood.  In  1886  she  entered  the  Preparatory  De- 
partment of  Juniata  College,  and  in  1891  finished  the 
Normal  English  Course.  She  engaged  successfully  in 
public  school  teaching  for  six  years  and  then  accepted 
an  appointment  as  missionary  to  India. 

At  Bulsar,  India,  on  June  29,  1898,  she  was  united  in 
marriage  to  S.  N.  McCann.  To  them  have  been  born  two 
children, — a  son  and  a  daughter. 

The  spiritual  atmosphere  of  her  home  prompted  Eliza- 
beth  to   give    her   heart   to    the    Lord    much    earlier    than 

356 


Biographical 

young  people  usually  accept  Christ  and  March  5,  1885, 
was  a  happy  day  when,  not  yet  seventeen,  she  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  church  by  baptism  administered  by  her 
father.  They  did  not  have  Sunday-school  in  her  com- 
munity during  her  youth,  so  she  attended  the  Moravian 
Sunday-school.  Later,  when  she  was  privileged,  she  was 
active  in  the  Brethren  school.  At  Juniata  she  enjoyed 
the  religious  spirit.  She  had  not,  as  yet,  offered  herself 
as  a  missionary,  though  she  often  thought  about  it. 
When  the  Board  called  her  to  the  needy  India  field,  she 
sailed,  in   the  fall   of   1897,   to   that   country. 

In  India,  after  acquiring  the  language  and  uniting  her 
life  with  that  of  Brother  McCann,  they  lived  at  Ankle- 
shwer,  where  they  both  labored  earnestly  in  famine  relief. 
Sister  McCann  also  did  some  touring,  and  conducted  Bi- 
ble classes,  but,  above  all,  set  the  example  of  a  Christian 
home  before  the  natives. 

A  run-down  condition  of  the  system  prompted  Sister 
McCann,  with  her  little  son,  Henry,  to  come  home  in 
1903,  while  her  husband  remained  at  his  post.  She  re- 
turned in  1904,  and  they  remained  on  the  field  until  Jan- 
uary 17,  1907,  when  both  came  home  on  furlough.  Owing 
to  health  conditions  they  have  remained  at  home,  residing 
at  Bridgewater,  Virginia,  but  their  hearts  are  in  India, 
and  Sister  McCann  longs  to  be  among  those  for  whom 
she  gave  so  much  of  her  life. 


MINERVA  METZGER 

Missionary  to  China,  1910 

To  Aaron  C.  and  Catherine  Metzger,  prosperous  farm- 
ers of  German  descent,  living  near  Mulberry,  Clinton 
County,  Indiana,  there  came,  on  November  12,  1876,  their 
daughter  Minerva,  one  of  three  daughters  born  into  this 
home.  She  had  every  advantage  of  a  good  Christian 
home,  every  facility  for  training  in  a  good  public  school, 
and  to  all  this  she  responded  fully.     As  life  widened,  she 

357 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

longed  to  prepare  for  its  duties.  So,  at  seventeen,  she  left 
the  home  circle  and  came  to  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois,  and  remained  in  school  one  year.  She 
taught  the  country  school  near  home  for  five  years  and 
returned  to  Mt.  Morris  College  and  finished  the  Academic 
Course  in  1902.  Thereafter,  for  three  years,  she  taught 
the  intermediate  grade  of  the  Mulberry  school  and  Ger- 
man in  the  high  school.  Not  satisfied  with  past  achieve- 
ments, but  yearning  for  better  preparation,  she  entered, 
in  the  fall  of  1905,  the  Indiana  State  University,  specialized 
on  German,  and  completed  the  Liberal  Arts  Course  with 
the  class  of  1909.  While  here,  the  call  to  the  foreign 
field  was  so  pressed  upon  her  heart,  that  she  determined 
to  prepare  for  it.  She  entered  Bethany  Bible  School, 
Chicago,  and  spent  a  year  in  special  preparation  for  China. 
Minerva  was  but  thirteen  years  old  when,  while  attend- 
ing a  series  of  meetings,  conducted  by  L.  T.  Holsinger  in 
the  Middle  Fork  congregation,  she  confessed  Christ  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  baptism  being 
administered  by  Brother  Holsinger  in  December,  1889. 
She  was  always  a  regular  attendant  at  Sunday-school, 
and  in  a  few  years  she  was  made  a  teacher.  While  at 
the  University  of  Indiana,  she  was  active  in  Christian 
endeavor.  She  was  chairman  of  the  Missionary  Commit- 
tee of  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  of  the 
institution,  and  represented  the  organization  at  one  of 
the  summer  conferences  at  Lake  Geneva,  Wisconsin.  At 
Bethany  Bible  School  she  especially  interested  herself 
in  the  work  among  the  Chinese.  Her  courage  and  trust 
were  manifest  when  being  approved  by  Conference  for 
1910  for  the  China  field.  The  only  one  to  go,  she  traveled 
alone  to  the  scenes  of  her  labors.  She  is  located  at  Ping 
Ting  Chou,  Shansi  Province,  doing  effectual  work  for  the 
mission,  and  happy  in  the  service. 


358 


Biographical 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  MILLER 
Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  1885-1887 

B.  F.  Miller  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth 
Bowser  Miller  and  was  born  March  5,  1843,  on  a  farm 
near  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  is  the  sixth  child  in  a  family  of 
four  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  and  gave  their  chil- 
dren the  example  of  a  godly  life.  B.  F.  had  little  oppor- 
tunity for  education,  but  knew  what  hard  work  meant. 
Yet  he  sought  to  "  do  good  unto  all  men "  and  to  be 
faithful  in  the  work  he  undertook  to  do. 

On  September  4,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Lucy  Ann 
Funderburg,  to  which  union  two  sons  were  born, — both 
members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

In  the  fall  of  1873  Bro.  Miller  confessed  Christ,  and  was 
received  into  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Donnels 
Creek  congregation,  Brother  George  Funderburg  ad- 
ministering the  rite  of  baptism.  In  1881  he  was  called 
to  the  deacon's  office,  in  which  capacity  he  is  still  serv- 
ing. When  the  Book  and  Tract  Work  was  organized,  in 
1885,  he  was  elected  a  member  and  served  two  years.  He 
helped  to  direct  the  beginning  of  that  work,  that  has  ac- 
complished much  good.  He  resides  at  New  Carlisle, 
Ohio. 


DANIEL   L.   MILLER 

Member  General  Mission  Board,  1884 — 

In  a  very  humble  abode, — the  basement  of  the  flour- 
ing mills, — on  the  banks  of  a  small  stream  emptying  into 
the  Conococheague,  a  few  miles  out  from  Hagerstown, 
Washington  County,  Maryland,  on  October  5,  1841,  Daniel 
Long  Miller  was  born.  Had  the  father  "  shut  down  "  the 
grinding,  in  honor  of  his  firstborn  by  his  second  wife? 
If  so,  at  the  most  it  was  but  for  a  short  time;   for  by 

359 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

careful,  faithful  and  conscientious  attention  to  his  milling, 
Abram  Miller  had  not  only  earned  for  himself  a  good  rep- 
utation, but  some  means.  The  water  from  the  mill  pond, 
at  least,  did  not  stop  dashing  over  the  wheel,  and  the 
man  of  great  activity,  all  through  life,  had  the  first  lesson 
of  movement  and  stir  drilled  into  him  while  yet  in  the 
cradle. 

Daniel  is  the  first  of  thirteen  children, — the  author's 
wife  the  last, — five  of  whom  died  in  infancy'  or  early 
youth.  The  remaining  eight, — seven  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter,— lived  to  maturity.  Of  the  seven  sons,  six  have  been 
active  church  officials  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
Such  was  the  impress  of  godliness  made,  perhaps  more 
especially  by  the  mother,  Catherine  Long  Miller,  upon 
her    children. 

Daniel  grew  just  like  all  boys  grow.  First  he  played 
about  the  mill;  when  older,  in  summer  time,  he  went 
swimming,  fished  along  the  creek  and  had  the  good  time 
of  a  boy  living  in  one  of  those  beauty  spots  of  rural  life, 
rarel}^  excelled  an3-where.  In  winter,  when  not  at  work, 
skating  and  hunting  were  much  enjoyed.  Schooling  was 
a  rather  rare  thing,  those  da3^s,  and  Daniel's  country- 
school  training  was  meager  enough.  In  all  about  six 
successive  years  of  four  months  subscription  school,  and 
one  term  of  district  school  were  the  sum  total  of  educa- 
tional advantages  till  he  reached  twenty-one.  Abundant 
employment  was  afforded  by  the  father's  farm  during  the 
summer  and  the  father's  mill  during  the  winter.  After 
entering  fully  into  the  milling  trade,  Daniel  continued 
his  studies  under  a  private  teacher,  and  qualified  himself 
for  teaching  in  the  public  schools. 

An  unusual  love  for  reading  prompted  Daniel  from  his 
youth  carefully  to  study  the  few  books  that  came  within 
his  reach.  At  this  time  he  began  to  collect  a  library, 
which  has  grown  to  some  four  thousand  volumes  and 
pamphlets.  In  his  study  he  did  not  neglect  the  Bible,  for 
even  in  childhopd  he  would  look  at  Bible  pictures  and 
read  the  story  relating  to  them.     This  love  for  the  re- 

360 


Biographical 

ligious  story  never  departed  from  him.  He  has  read  Pil- 
grim's Progress  perhaps  as  many  as  twenty-five  times. 

In  October,  1860,  when  nineteen  years  old,  Daniel  went 
"  far  west," — to  the  vicinity  of  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois, — with 
his  grandfather  Long,  and  uncle,  Dan  Zellers.  He  made 
several  trips  back  and  forth,  when,  at  last,  he  made  Illi- 
nois his  home.  On  one  of  these  return  trips  east  he  came 
under  conviction  while  attending  a  revival  meeting  con- 
ducted by  Brother  Zigler,  near  his  home,  and  a  few  weeks 
later,  on  February  22,  1863,  he  was  received  into  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  by  baptism,  administered  by  Da- 
vid Miller.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  life  for  him. 
He  turned  his  attention  to  preparing  to  teach;  taught  two 
terms  near  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  and  several  in  Frank- 
lin County,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  planning  to  enter  Mil- 
ler's Normal  School  to  prepare  for  teaching  as  a  life 
work.  Financial  failure,  on  the  part  of  a  firm  for  which 
he  worked,  and  through  which  he  himself  lost  all  his 
accumulated  earnings,  changed  his  plans. 

At  about  this  time  he  met  Miss  Elizabeth  Talley,  in 
Philadelphia,  and  some  time  after, — Februarj^  6,  1868, — 
they  were  united  in  marriage.  Daniel  had  already  es- 
tablished himself  in  mercantile  lines  in  Polo,  Illinois,  and 
there  they  began  life  on  a  very  small  scale.  Fortune 
smiled  on  them, — the  fortune  that  comes  from  long  hours 
in  the  store  and  the  strictest  economy.  It  smiled  and 
they  were  doing  well.  But  one  day  it  frowned,  and  the 
man  with  a  good  start  in  business,  was  worth  less  than 
nothing. 

Not  being  daunted  by  this  sore  experience,  Daniel 
buckled  to  the  fray  along  new  lines,  and  again  fortune 
smiled  on  him.  From  the  sale  of  butter  and  eggs,  to  the 
larger  business  of  a  grocer,  he  prospered  and  added  to 
his  capital,  year  by  year. 

During  this  period  he  was  not  negligent  of  growth  in 
grace.  They  lived  in  town:  the  Brethren  church  was  in 
the  country,  some  six  miles  distant.  And  few,  compara- 
tively, were  the  Sundays  when  they  were  not  found  in 
their  places.     But  this  was  not  enough.     Teaching  in  the 

361 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Methodist  Sunday-school,  active  in  the  village  prayer 
meetings,  and  through  other  similar  avenues,  did  he  de- 
velop  Christian  character. 

The  village  honored  him  with  the  position  of  tov^^n 
clerk.  Those  were  the  days  of  emigration  to  the  still 
farther  West, — Kansas.  Daniel  was  an  agent  who  helped 
to  make  the  first  settlements  in  Reno  County,  Kansas, 
in  the  days  when  it  was  said  that  the  land  was  a  desert, 
that  the  settlers  could  raise  nothing  whatever,  and  would, 
perhaps,  starve  to  death  before  they  could  get  a  supply  of 
food. 

In  1873  his  mother  died.  She  had  sat  down  to  write 
him  a  letter,  and  had  finished  two  pages  when  she  was 
called  to  entertain  some  company,  and  before  she  returned 
to  the  unfinished  message  God  called  her.  Years  after, 
Daniel  came  across  this  incomplete  letter,  and  in  the  days 
of  his  ripe  manhood,  thus  in  part  he  wrote  about  it:  "  Only 
an  old,  tear-stained  letter  with  its  message  of  love  from  a 
mother  heart,  as  pure  as  the  breath  of  angels  and  as  un- 
selfish as  aught  human  can  be.  I  have  read  it  over  again 
and  again  today,  as  I  enter  upon  the  sixty-second  year  of 
my  earthly  pilgrimage;  and,  as  I  read,  how  the  memories 
of  the  years,  gone  forever,  come  thronging  and  trooping 
before  me.  The  dear  old  home,  the  happy  days  of  child- 
hood, before  dull,  corroding  care  touched  the  heart  and 
seamed  the  face,  when  the  shadows  flitted  quickly  and  all 
joyous  years  were  full  of  sunshine  and  childish  happiness, 
when  I  laid  my  weary  head  upon  '  the  pillow  made  by  God, 
and  cried  when  I  was  taken  from  it,  and  cried  again  when 
it  was  taken  away  from  me,' — cried  and  would  not  be  com- 
forted because  there  had  gone  out  of  my  life  its  chief 
centre." 

In  1879,  after  much  deliberation,  D.  L.  Miller,  as  he  was 
then  coming  to  be  familiarly  known  in  Northern  Illinois, 
decided  to  sell  his  business  in  Polo  and  accept  an  invi- 
tation from  M.  S.  Newcomer  to  be  Business  Manager  of 
Mt.  Morris  College,  just  recently  purchased  by  the  latter. 
He  brought  with  him  the  business  methods  and  thorough- 
ness that  insured  success  wherever  he  applied  himself.  He 

362 


Biographical 

was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  at  the 
opening  of  school  in  1879.  At  the  college  he  revealed  his 
ability  in  handling  men,  and  in  his  new  position  he  was 
loved  by  both  teacher  and  student.  After  helping  to  get 
the  institution  on  a  good  foundation,  he  planned  his  first 
trip  abroad,  going  to  Germany,  mainly  to  study  the  lan- 
guage and  better  to  prepare  himself  for  the  position  he 
was  now  occupying.  At  Halle  he  was  admitted  to  the 
University  and  studied  Church  History  and  Political 
Economy. 

The  year  before  this,  however,  in  1882,  he  joined  part- 
nership with  Joseph  Amick,  of  Indiana,  in  the  publishing 
interests  of  the  "  Brethren  at  Work,"  the  enterprise  at 
the  time,  being  greatly  embarrassed  financially.  In  1883 
he  was  elected  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Mt. 
Morris  College,  which  office  he  held  till  1913  when,  be- 
cause of  the  infirmities  of  age,  he  resigned.  In  the  same 
year  (1883)  he  and  his  wife  sailed  for  Europe  and  ex- 
tended their  trip  through  Palestine.  He  wrote  for  the 
"Gospel  Messenger,"  and  these  articles  became  the  basis 
of  that  first  and  perhaps  best  book  of  his,  "  Europe  and 
Bible  Lands,"  which  ran  through  eleven  editions  before 
the  demand  was  supplied.  They  visited  Denmark  and 
Sweden,  and  in  Germany  spent  considerable  time  at  the 
University  of  Halle.  Later  they  went  to  Palestine  and 
toured  the  Holy  Land,  riding  twenty-one  days  on  horse- 
back. 

Upon  his  return,  in  1884,  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  General  Mission  Board,  and  reappointed  continuously 
until,  in  1910,  having  resigned,  the  Conference  at  Winona 
Lake,  Indiana,  reluctantly  accepted  his  resignation,  and 
passed  the  following  resolutions: 

Whereas,  on  account  of  failing  health  Elder  D.  L.  Mil- 
ler offers  to  the  Conference,  through  Standing  Committee, 
his  resignation  as  a  member  of  the  General  Mission  Board, 
and 

Whereas,  we  feel  his  services  in  the  work  o.f  missions 
are  so  important  and  useful  both  to  the  Board  and  to  the 
church  through  his  many  years  of  experience  and  travel 
in  mission  lands, 

363 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

We  offer  the  following  resolutions: 

1.  Desiring  to  do  nothing  to  lessen  his  days  of  useful- 
ness for  the  church  militant  or  lay  any  unnecessary  bur- 
den upon  him,  because  we  need  him  as  long  as  God  may 
spare  him  to  us,  we  can  accept  his  resignation  only  on  ac- 
count of  his  failing  health  and  do  so  most  reluctantly. 

2.  We  acknowledge  with  gratitude  his  incalculable  serv- 
ice through  these  many  years,  having  been  a  member  of 
the  Mission  Board  from  its  beginning,  having  traveled 
extensively  with  a  purpose  to  know  the  need  of  the 
world  and  opportunities  of  the  church  both  at  home  and 
abroad.  Also  having  been  in  touch  with  the  publishing 
interests  for  so  many  years  and  helping  so.  largely  in 
making  the  present  large  plant  a  success  and  the  property 
of  the  church. 

3.  In  view  of  the  above  facts  and  his  great  helpfulness 
to  the  Board  and  their  urgent  request  for  it,  we  recom- 
mend that  he  be  made  an  advisory  member  of  the  General 
Mission  Board  during  his  life-time. 

4.  We  extend  to  him  the  gratitude  of  this  Conference 
for  these  long  years  of  wise  counsel,  and  loyal  and  untir- 
ing service,  and  invoke  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the 
work  to  which  he  has  contributed  so  much,  and  that  many 
years  may  yet  be  given  him  and  his  good  wife  enriched 
with  the  blessings  of  God. 

During  this  long  period  of  service,  he  served  five  years 
as  Secretary,  sixteen  years  as  Treasurer,  and  in  1899  was 
made  President,  which  position  he  still  honors.  When  in 
the  homeland,  he  has  not  missed  one  meeting  of  the 
Board. 

In  the  beginning  of  General  Missions,  if  the  total  con- 
tributions of  a  day  reached  as  much  as  $100,  it  made  more 
stir  in  Mt.  Morris,  through  D.  L.  telling  it  with  joy,  than 
a  hundred  times  that  amount  now  does.  In  1886  he  inaug- 
urated the  present  endowment  plan  which  has  grown  to 
such    splendid   proportions   at   this   time. 

The  years  were  filled  with  many  important  events  from 
now  on.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  office  editor  of  the 
"Gospel  Messenger;"  elected  to  the  deacon's  office,  and 
chosen  Superintendent  of  the  Silver  Creek  and  Mt.  Morris 
Sunday-schools. 

On  June  15,  1887,  he  was  called  to  the  ministry  by  the 
Mt.  Morris   congregation  and  preached  his   first   sermon 

364 


Biographical 

at  the  Pleasant  Grove  schoolhouse,  two  miles  east  of 
Mt.  Morris,  June  19,  1887.  He  was  advanced  in  March, 
1888,  and  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands  by  Enoch  Eby  and  Edmund  Forney  on  March  13, 
1891.  During  these  years  he  kept  steadily  in  the  edito- 
rial chair,  and  his  writings  did  much  to  unify  the  church 
and  raise  her  ideals. 

In  1891  he  longed  for  another  trip  abroad,  and,  secur- 
ing J.  H.  Moore  to  take  his  place  as  office  editor,  he 
planned  a  trip  to  Europe,  including  Egypt  and  Palestine. 
Sister  Miller's  health  became  such,  on  the  journey,  that 
they  returned  after  visiting  the  churches  of  Europe.  In 
1891  he  represented  Northern  Illinois  on  the  Standing- 
Committee  for  the  first  time,  and  was  chosen  Writing 
Clerk,  which  position  he  filled  five  times.  He  was  chosen 
Moderator  twice,  and  served  on  many  church  commit- 
tees, among  the  more  important  being  Revision  of  the 
Annual  Meeting  Minutes,  compiling  the  Brethren's  Hymn 
Book  and  Hymnal,  Dress  Committees  of  1898  and  1909, 
and  Compiling  Rules  Governing  Conference.  He  also 
served   on   committees   to  many  local   congregations. 

With  the  return  from  the  tour  through  Europe  and 
Egypt,  in  1892-93,  D.  L.  took  up  lecturing,  giving  his 
entire  time  to  Bible  Land  talks.  The  year  1895  found  him 
and  his  wife  starting  on  their  first  trip  around  the  world. 
In  1896  he  made  a  proposition  in  which,  by  giving,  on  the 
annuity  plan,  nearly  three-fifths  of  the  capital  stock  of 
the  Brethren  Publishing  Company,  this  business  was  thus 
secured  for  the  church  and  taken  over  by  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board,  April  1,  1897. 

In  1901  he  accompanied  Albert  Vaniman  and  wife  to 
Sweden,  and  assisted  in  locating  them  in  that  mission 
field.  At  the  same  time  he  visited  all  the  churches  in 
Scandinavia.  In  1904  he  and  Sister  Miller  made  an  ex- 
tended tour  of  the  world,  visiting  South  Africa,  Australia, 
India,  China,  Japan  and  the  Hawaiian  Islands.  Of  this 
two  years*  tour  nearly  a  year  was  spent  in  India,  and  a 
distance    of  38,000   miles   was   traveled.     All   his   travels 

365 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

abroad, — visiting  the  churches  and  missions, — ^were  made 
at  his  own  expense. 

It  pleased  the  Lord  not  to  give  him  children  after  the 
flesh,  but  the  following  are  the  children  of  his  mind  and 
heart, — books  that  have  had  a  large  circulation  and  done 
much  for  the  development  of  the  church: 

Europe  and  Bible  Lands,  _ 1884 

Wanderings  in   Bible  Lands, 1893 

Seven  Churches  of  Asia 1894 

Girdling  the   Globe,    1898 

Eternal   Verities,    1902 

The  Other  Half  of  the  Globe,  1906 

For  several  years  he  had  been  resting  from  writing 
books.  In  1912  he  conceived  the  idea  of  a  book  of  biog- 
raphies of  church  worthies,  and  in  joint  editorship  with 
another,  prepared  "  Some   Who   Led." 

His  labors  have  been  somewhat  restricted,  in  recent 
years,  through  the  affliction,  arteriosclerosis.  Yet  his 
letter  writing  and  his  repeated  tours  among  the  churches 
have  been  a  great  joy  to  him;  his  messages  have  been  a 
great  blessing  where  he  has  gone.  He  has  held  a  num- 
ber of  series  of  meetings  in  which  there  were  good  in- 
gatherings into  the  kingdom. 

He  resides  in  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  and  has  an  abiding 
interest  in  the  things  about  him  and  over  the  Brother- 
hood. 


ELIZA  B.  MILLER 

Missionary  to  India,  1900 

Simon  B.  Miller,  a  young  man  from  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania,  came  to  Iowa  and  took  up  a  homestead. 
After  a  while  he  returned  and  brought  back  with  him 
Lydia  Pike,  his  bride,  and  they  made  their  home  south  of 
Waterloo,  Blackhawk  County,  Iowa.  To  them  were  born 
five  daughters  and  then  five  sons,  who  grew  to  maturity, 
besides  four  who  died  in  infancy.  Eliza,  born  November 
18,  1874,  is  the  third  in  the  family.     At  seven  she  went 

366 


Biographical 

to  live  with  her  aunt,  Mary  Miller,  a  decided  advantage 
to  the  child  in  this  that  her  parents  lived  about  ten  miles 
from  the  church,  while  Aunt  Mary  lived  within  a  few 
steps.  From  here  she  went  to  public  school,  Sunday- 
school,  and  here,  also,  she  met  many  church  workers  who 
visited  in  her  aunt's  home.  At  eighteen  she  taught  her 
first  term  of  school  and  at  the  same  time  learned  the  dress- 
making trade.  In  November,  1903,  she  entered  Mt.  Mor- 
ris College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  and  between  that  date 
and  the  time  of  her  appointment  to  India,  she  taught  six- 
teen terms  of  public  school,  attended  Mt,  Morris  Col- 
lege two  years,  and  secured  a  first  grade  certificate  in 
the  State  of  Iowa.  All  this  meant  close,  conscientious 
application. 

Eliza's  parents  and  grandparents  were  faithful  members 
of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Her  Aunt  Mary,  with 
whom  she  lived,  and  Grandmother  Berkley,  with  her  also 
a  great  deal,  were  godly  women  of  the  same  faith,  and 
every  influence  was  silently  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
young  life,  to  make  it  very  devoted  to  the  Lord.  In  the 
summer  of  1888,  when  fourteen  years  old,  Eliza,  with 
four  associates,  was  received  into  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren by  baptism,  administered  by  Samuel  M.  Miller.  There 
was  no  series  of  meetings  in  progress,  but  simply  an  in- 
dication of  the  revival  spirit  that  permeated  the  congre- 
gation at  this  place  about  all  the  time.  She  was  a  reg- 
ular attendant  at  Sunday-school,  and  soon  became  a 
teacher.  At  Mt.  Morris  she  was  active  in  prayer  meeting. 
In  1897  the  Mission  Board  of  the  Waterloo  congregation 
elected  her  its  secretary,  which  position  she  filled  for 
three  years.  In  1899  she  was  appointed  city  missionary 
in  Waterloo,  which  position  she  filled  till  within  one 
month  of  sailing  for  India.  At  the  North  Manchester 
Conference  of  1900,  she  was  appointed  to  India.  In  the 
new  field  she  had  charge  of  the  Girls'  Orphanage  for 
many  years,  and  directed  it  in  a  most  satisfactory  man- 
ner. Now  she  is  located  at  Vali  (Umalla)  and  is  doing 
splendid  work  among  the  women,  as  well  as  superin- 
tending the  village  schools. 

367 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

JACOB  L.  MILLER 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1891-1894 

Samuel  and  Mary  (Lehman)  Miller  lived  on  a  farm  near 
Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  to  them  was  born  on 
January  23,  1835,  a  son,  Jacob,  the  first  child  of  a  fam'ily 
of  ten  children.  When  nineteen  years  old,  Jacob  located 
at  Franklin  Grove,  Illinois,  vi^here  he  lived  till  the  close 
of  his  life.  He  had  the  advantage  of  a  common  and  high 
school  education,  and  one  year  at  Rock  River  Seminary, 
now  Mt.  Morris   College. 

On  December  18,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Ann  Cath- 
erine, daughter  of  Jacob  and  Hannah  Riddlesberger,  to 
which  union  four  sons  were  born. 

When  twenty-seven  years  old,  he  confessed  Christ  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Rock  River 
congregation,  Lee  County,  Illinois.  In  1891  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  General  Mission  Board,  and  took  much 
interest  in  its  work.  Through  consolidation,  in  1894,  he 
was  not  continued  longer  than  the  one  term. 

Sickness  overtook  him,  and  he  lingered  for  upwards  of 
a  year  before  the  end  came.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Emmert  cemetery,  near  Nachusa,  Illinois. 


SADIE  J.  MILLER 

Missionary  to  India,  1903 

Simon  B.  and  his  wife,  Lydia  Fike  Miller,  were  blessed 
with  fourteen  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  early  child- 
hood. Of  this  goodly  number,  the  Lord  had  use  for  two 
in  India.  Sadie,  born  on  March  28,  1878,  was  the  fifth 
child  and  youngest  daughter  of  the  family.  They  lived 
on  the  farm  and  every  one  of  them  knew  what  hard  work 
meant.  Located  some  nine  miles  from  the  South  Water- 
loo church,  they  did  not  have  the  opportunity  of  regular 
attendance  at  services,  yet  all  were  eager  to  go  whenever 

368 


Opposite    36S 


Minerva    Metzger  Winnie  Gripe  Anna   Hutchison 

2Zy.   &    Mrs.    B.    F.    Heckman      Mr.  &  Mrs.   Paul  Moliler  and    Family 
Ida  C.   Shumaker  J.   Homer  Bright     Mrs.    J.    Homer    Bright 


Biographical 

opportunity  afforded.  She  availed  herself  of  all  the  edu- 
cational advantages  w^ithin  her  reach.  When  eighteen, 
she  spent  two  summers  teaching  music  near  Le  Mars, 
Iowa.  At  nineteen  she  took  up  studies  at  Mt.  Morris 
College  and  completed  a  course.  Here  she  taught  vocal 
music  and  led  in  the  public  song  service,  thus  helping  to 
pay  her  way  through  school. 

When  D.  H.  Walker,  of  Somerset  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  holding  meetings  in  the  South  Waterloo  church, 
in  the  fall  of  1892,  Sadie  was  among  the  number  who 
united  with  Christ  in  baptism.  Her  special  talent  was 
music.  Her  service  of  song  has  reached  a  large  circle. 
Her  influence  among  the  students  at  college  was  a  great 
help  along  religious  lines. 

Seeing  the  need  of  a  teacher  in  India,  the  Mount  Mor- 
ris Sunday-school  took  up  the  task  of  raising  money  to 
send  some  one  to  supply  it.  The  donors  united  on  Sister 
Sadie,  and  in  the  fall  of  1903  she  went  to  India. 

She  has  been  a  brave  and  unique  worker  among  women 
on  the  foreign  field.  It  is  her  delight,  in  the  proper  sea- 
son,, to  pitch  her  tent  in  the  outskirts  of  the  mission  field 
and  there,  with  her  Bible  women  and  her  service  of  song, 
tell  the  story  of  redeeming  love  to  the  heathen  at  their 
very  doors.  She  fears  not  wild  beast  nor  creeping  things. 
And  though  to  another  such  a  life  of  service  would  seem 
lonely,  to  Sadie  it  is  a  joy,  as  she  notes  the  onward 
progress  of  the  Gospel,  and  its  power  among  the  benighted 
ones. 


ADAM  MINNICK 

Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,  1885-1890 

Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Long)  Minnick  were  farmers  in 
moderate  circumstances,  living  near  Union,  Montgomery 
County,  Ohio.  Jacob  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  and  was  always  a  strong  advocate  of 
Sunday-schools,  long  before  there  were  any  in  the  Church. 

369 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Elizabeth  was  reared  in  the  River  Brethren  faith.  Both 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  1850.  Into 
their  home  was  born,  on  April  6,  1835,  a  son,  whom  they 
were  pleased  to  call  Adam.  He  was  the  second  child 
in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom 
two  are  living  today. 

Adam  had  but  few  educational  advantages.  His  youth 
was  spent  in  hard  work  on  the  farm,  and  all  his  schooling 
could  easily  be  included  in  less  than  a  year.  But  he  tried 
to  do  the  right,  and  became  a  practical  and  useful  man. 
He  made  a  success  of  farming.  In  1884  he  took  up  car- 
pentering and  contract  work.  He  now  lives  a  retired  life 
at  Trotwood,   Ohio. 

On  November  20,  1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Catherine  Ziegler,  and  to  them  were  born  five  sons, 
four  of  whom  are  living. 

In  June,  1866,  he  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Blue  River  congregation, 
Indiana,  Brother  Jeremiah  Gump  administering  baptism. 
He  was  an  enthusiastic  worker  in  Sunday-schools,  teach- 
ing classes  in  all  grades  during  his  time.  Just  a  year  or 
two  ago  he  resigned  as  teacher,  because  of  age,  but  a 
class  of  boys  asked  him  to  teach  them  another  year. 
Though  a  willing  servant,  the  church  did  not  call  him  to 
any  official  position.  Nevertheless  he  was  one  of  that 
all-around  kind  of  brethren  whom  the  officials  and  the 
church  used  freely.  As  solicitor  for  the  Old  People's 
Home  he  secured  $15,000  endowment,  and  for  four  years 
served  as  its  Treasurer.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements  for  the  1886  Annual  Meeting. 
Southern  District  of  Ohio  recognized  in  him  sterling  qual- 
ities, and  elected  him  to  serve  two  terms  on  the  District 
Mission  Board.  On  the  Book  and  Tract  Work  he  ren- 
dered much  service.  He  solicited  a  large  endowment, 
and  served  on  a  committee  to  examine  mission  stations  for 
tract  distribution.  His  help  for  the  progress  of  the  work 
was   good, 


370 


Biographical 


PAUL   MOHLER 
Missionary  to  France,  1911-1912 

S.  S.  Mohler,  born  and  raised  near  Covington,  Ohio, 
became  one  of  the  leading  bishops  of  the  Brotherhood. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Ann  Deeter  on  No- 
vember 3,  1853,  and  in  1869  the  family  moved  to  Johnson 
County,  Missouri,  To  them  were  given  seven  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  Paul,  the  youngest,  was  born 
December  5,  1876.  He  made  good  use  of  his  country 
school  privileges,  and  finished  a  course  in  the  State  Nor- 
mal at  Warrensburg,  Missouri,  for  the  purpo.se  of  prepar- 
ing himself  for  school-teaching.  This  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed for  ten  years.  In  1900  he  located  on  a  homestead 
in  North  Dakota  but  spent  most  of  his  time  in  teaching 
school  and  in  successful  commercial  efforts,  but  in  1908 
he  gave  up  secular  pursuits  in  order  to  devote  his  time 
and  energies  to  soul-saving  work.  This  led  him  to 
Bethany  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  where  he  pursued,  with 
great  zeal,  a  course  in  Bible  study. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  at  Cando,  North  Dakota, 
to  Lucy  F.,  daughter  of  I.  W.  Leatherman,  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  to  them  have  been  born  two  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

From  the  very  beginning  Paul's  spiritual  environment 
has  been  most  helpful.  His  grandfather  and  father  were 
men  of  great  piety  and  strong  leadership  in  the  church; 
his  brothers,— all  older  than  himself,— were  officials  in  the 
church  and  good  workers  for  the  Lord.  And  Paul,  when 
yet  a  lad  of  twelve  summers,  while  J.  M.  Mohler,  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  conducting  a  series  of  meetings  in  the 
Mineral  Creek  congregation,  Mo.,  gave  his  heart  to  the 
Lord,  and  was  baptized  by  M.  S.  Mohler.  As  he  came 
to  manhood,  the  church  saw  in  him  a  worker,  and  the 
Smith  Fork  congregation,  of  Missouri,  where  he  held  his 
membership,  called  him  to  the  ministry  in  1902.  He  was 
advanced  to  the  second  degree  in  1904,  in  North  Dakota. 
Before  sailing  for  France,  on  September  15,  1911,  he  was 

371 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ordained  to  the  bishapric  at  Bethany  Bible  School,  by 
the  laying  on  of  hands  by  I.  Bennett  Trout  and  J.  H, 
Moore.  In  France  he  located  at  Oyonnax,  a  mission 
that  had  been  conducted  for  some  years  by  one  who  had 
united  with,  but  had  not  been  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  It  was  not  long  until  Brother 
Mohler,  after  acquiring  the  language  to  some  extent,  dis- 
covered the  real  character  of  the  leader  and  his  work. 
After  Bro.  Mohler  reported  the  situation  to  the  Board, 
and  the  latter  deliberately  went  over  the  entire  matter, 
time  after  time,  it  was  decided  to  close  the  mission. 
Brother  Mohler  returned  to  the  homeland  and  is  now  en- 
gaged as  a  worker  with  Bethany  Bible  School. 


MRS.  PAUL  MOHLER,  NEE  LUCY  F. 
LEATHERMAN 

Missionary  to  France,  1911-1912 

To  I.  W.  Leatherman,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  (Kline) 
Leatherman,  were  born  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Lucy  F.  being  the  oldest,  gladdened  their  hearts  Novem- 
ber 19,  1877,  while  the  family  was  living  in  Mineral  Coun- 
ty, West  Virginia.  Lucy  made  good  use  of  the  common 
school  in  her  early  life  and  then  finished  the  Normal- 
English  Course  at  Juniata  College,  Huntingdon,  Penn- 
sylvania, with  the  class  of  1895.  She  remained  at  Juniata 
another  year,  taking  further  work.  She  then  engaged  in 
teaching  and  home  work  for  the  next  six  years. 

At  Cando,  North  Dakota,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Paul  Mohler,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  sons  and 
one  daughter. 

From  a  child  she  enjoyed  not  only  good  religious  train- 
ing in  the  home,  but  the  inspiration  of  the  Sunday-school 
and  church  services,  which  she  was  permitted  to  attend 
regularly.  While  at  Juniata  College,  she  confessed  Christ 
and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  during  meet- 
ings held  by  I.  D.  Parker.  Since  this  step  she  has  been  an 
active   Sunday-school  and   church  wotker,  and   after   her 

372 


Biographical 

marriage  a  good  help  to  her  husband.  She  knows  how  to 
endure  hardship  as  a  good  soldier  and,  perhaps,  has  had 
her  full  share.  She  was  glad  to  go  with  her  husband  to 
France,  stood  by  him  well  in  his  trying  work  there,  and  is 
now  in  their  home  at  4341  Congress  St.,  Chicago,  while  her 
husband  is  in   the  field  working  for  the   Lord. 


JOHN  M.  PITTENGER 
Missionary  to  India,  1904 

Joshua  W.  Pittenger,  of  Scottish  descent  and  Calvin- 
istic  tendencies,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Ann  Senseman,  of 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  stock,  were  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  living  at  West 
Charleston,  Miami  County,  Ohio,  when  their  son  John 
was  born  on  March  6,  1869.  John  is  the  fourth  child  in  a 
family  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  When  two  years 
old,  his  parents  moved  to  a  farm  near  Pleasant  Hill, 
Ohio, — still  the  old  family  home.  John's  school-days  were 
used  to  great  profit  to  himself,  but  in  March,  1886,  his 
father  died,  imposing  heavier  responsibility  upon  him 
than  his  young  shoulders  should  have  borne.  But  he  took 
hold  manfully,  prepared  to  teach  school,  and  in  1889  was 
teaching  his  home  school,  continuing  for  a  number  of 
terms.  He  spent  one  year  at  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois,  and  three  years  at  home,  working  on 
the  farm  in  the  summer,  and  teaching  in  the  winter.  In 
1895  he  entered  Juniata  College,  Huntingdon,  Pennsyl- 
vania, completed  the  Normal  English  Coutse  in  1897,  the 
Classical  Course  in  1902,  and  began  to  lay  his  plans  for 
service  on  a  foreign  field. 

While  at  Juniata  College,  he  met  Florence,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Baker,  of  Maryland,  and  to  her  was  united  in 
marriage  at  the  home  of  J.  B.  Brumbaugh,  o.n  May  18, 
1904.    To  them  have  been  born  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

When  John  was  nineteen  years  old,  he  confessed  Christ, 
while  attending  a  series  of  meetings  conducted  by  Quinter 

373 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Calvert  in  the  Newton  congregation,  and  was  baptized 
by  D.  D.  Wine.  His  Sunday-school  and  Christian  work 
has  been  earnest  and  productive  of  much  good.  While 
at  home,  on  September  2,  1897,  he  was  called  to  the  min- 
istry, advanced  to  the  second  degree  October  25,  1903, 
and  at  Vyara,  India,  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the 
laying  on  of  hands  by  W.  B.  Stover  and  J.  M.  Blough. 

His  station  in  India  has  been  at  Ahwa,  in  the  Dangs  For- 
ests, a  territory  of  a  thousand  square  miles,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  over  30,000,  and  in  this  great  field  he  and  his 
wife  alone  have  been  laboring  for  the  Master.  His  work 
is  evangelistic,  educational  and  medical,  as  far  as  able. 
His  hands  have  been  more  than  full  and  his  labors  have 
resulted  in  much  good.  He  has  just  begun  his  first  fur- 
lough home. 


MRS.  JOHN   M.  PITTENGER,  NEE  FLORENCE 

BAKER 

Missionary  to  India,  1904 

Daniel  Baker,  of  Garrett  County,  Maryland,  was  reared 
in  the  Brethren  faith,  while  his  wife,  Lydia  Kemp,  had 
been  reared  under  Amish  influences.  Both,  a  few  years 
after  their  marriage,  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  and  have  been  faithful  ever  since.  Florence, 
the  fourth  child  in  a  family  of  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, was  born  on  June  15,  18>9.  She  enjoyed  her  child- 
hood school-days  and  made  good  use  of  her  opportuni- 
ties. In  1896-97  she  taught  public  school  in  the  country, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1897  entered  Juniata  College,  Hunting- 
don, Pennsylvania,  where  she  continued  until  graduating 
in  the  Normal  English  Course  in  1900.  She  returned  to 
college  in  1902,  and  continued  Bible  studies.  During  a 
part  of  this  time  she  was  assistant  librarian  of  the  col- 
lege. 

On  May  18,  1904,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  John  M. 
Pittenger  and  to  them  have  been  born  one  son  and  one 
daughter. 

374 


Biographical 

Florence's  parents,  greatly  desiring  to  see  their  children 
do  well,  gave  them  good  schooling  and  instilled  into 
them  proper  Christian  principles.  At  a  love  feast  in  the 
Maple  Grove  congregation,  Maryland,  in  the  fall  of  1888, 
she  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  was  bap- 
tized by  W.  T.  Sines.  She  has  always  been  very  active  in 
church  work.  At  college  she  was  regular  attendant  at  all 
the  religious  services,  no  matter  how  many  came  in  a  day. 
She  taught  a  mission  study  class,  was  leader  of  mission 
bands,  and  an  able  helper  in  revivals  during  the  seven 
years  she  was  at  Juniata.  In  going  to  India,  which  she 
gladly  did,  she  has  undergone  much  hard  labor  and  many 
lonely  hours.  Her  husband's  station,  at  Ahwa,  in  the 
Dangs  Forests,  is  far  away  from  any  other  foreigners. 
There  she  has  been  often  alone  for  a  number  of  days, 
while  her  husband  was  away  from  home  on  duty,  but  she 
has  been  faithful,  helpful,  and  happy  in  service  for  her 
King. 


LEWIS  A.  PLATE 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1892-1894 

F.  W.  Plate,  Ph.  D.,  was  an  honored  professor  of  lan- 
guages at  the  Collegiate  Institute  of  Bremen,  Germany, 
and  the  author  of  several  textbooks.  His  wife,  originally 
from  Switzerland,  became,  later  on,  a  resident  of  Leip- 
sic,   Germany.     Here   their  marriage  took  place   in   1840. 

A  call  from  the  Collegiate  Institute  at  Bremen  hastened 
an  early  removal  to  that  city,  where  family  ties  contin- 
ued unbroken  until  the  death  of  the  father  in  1865,  leaving 
to  the  mother  the  care  of  five  children, — three  daughters 
and  two  sons.  Lewis,  next  to  the  youngest,  was  born  on 
July  16,  1855.  Religiously  the  entire  family  was  of  the 
Lutheran   persuasion. 

Lewis  enjoyed  the  excellent  educational  advantages  of 
the  city  schools  at  Bremen,  later  on  taking  a  more  ad- 
vanced course  at  Zurich,  Switzerland.     Because  his  older 

375 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

lirodier  Ernest  lost  his  health  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war, 
Lewis,  prompted  by  the  wish  of  his  mother, — to  have  him 
escape  military  duty, — ^landed  in  the  United  States  on  Oc- 
tober 18,  1872. 

Brother  Plate's  first  introduction  to  the  Brethren  was 
at  the  Annual  Meeting  at  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1S73.  Here  he  became  acquainted  with  such  brethren  as 
James  Quinter,  C.  G.  Lint,  Grabill  Myers  and  others. 
Later  on, — ^and  for  several  years  thereafter,  as  long  as 
the  practice  continued, — he  translated  the  Annual  Meet- 
ing Minutes  into  the  German  lang-^age  for  the  benefit  of 
the  German-speaking  members. 

In  the  year  1874,  while  residing  in  Somerset  County, 
Brother  Plate  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  by 
baptism  administered  by  Valentine  Blough.  Soon  after, 
he  accepted  a  position  in  the  office  of  the  "  Pilgrim  "  at 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  and  later  on  conducted  a  small 
German  department  in  that  paper.  At  the  request  of  sev- 
eral German  churches  in  Pennsylvania  and  elsewhere,  he 
started  a  small  German  monthlj-,  "Der  Bruderbote,"  in 
Lancaster,  Pennsjlvania.  The  first  number  was  issued  in 
the  spring  of  1875.  At  the  suggestion  of  J.  T.  Myers,  the 
paper  was  moved  to  Germantown,  Pennsylvania,  enlarged 
by  adding  an  English  department,  making  sixteen  pages  in 
all,  and  known  as  the  "Brethren's  Messenger."  In  1876 
this  publication,  together  with  the  printing  outfit,  was 
moved  to  Lanark,  Illinois,  where  J.  H.  Moore  and  M.  M. 
Eshelman  thereafter  published  the  paper  under  the  name 
of  "Brethren  at  Work."  Brother  Plate  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  publishing  interests,  which  finally  came 
into  the  hands  of  the  church,  ever  since.  In  the  fall  of 
1907  he  was  elected  assistant  editor  of  the  "Gospel  Mes- 
senger," which  position  he  still  occupies. 

During  his  residence  at  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  in  1890, 
he  was  elected  deacon  and  has  ser^-ed  faithfully  in  that 
capacity  through  all  the  years.  He  has  been  over  twenty- 
five  years  one  of  the  most  faithful  Sunday-school  teachers 
in  the  Brotherhood,  rarely  missing  any  session  and,  for 
that  matter,  any  service  of  the  congregation, 

376 


Biographical 

In  1892  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board  and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  the  new 
organization  under  the  consolidation  in  1894.  While  re- 
siding in  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Old 
People's  Home,  located  in  that  village. 

He  resides  in  Elgin,  Illinois,  active,  faithful  and  earnest 
in  all  his  labors. 


JOSEPHINE  POWELL 
Missionary  to  India,  1906 

The  Powells,  for  two  generations,  were  m.embers  of 
the  Missionary  Baptist  Church.  The  father  was  of  En- 
glish descent;  the  family  was  residing  at  Williamsport, 
Indiana,  on  June  6,  1871,  when  their  daughter  Josephine 
was  born.  Because  of  sickness  in  the  home,  Josephine 
spent  much  time  with  relatives,  her  grandmother  and  an 
aunt.  It  so  happened  that  their  homes  were  so  located 
that  she  did  not  have  good  school  privileges.  But  the 
grandmother,  mindful  of  the  girl's  needs,  supplied,  in  a 
great  measure,  the  lack  until  Josephine  was  permitted  to 
attend  the  Williamsport  high  school  one  year.  Time  went 
by  until,  in  1896,  she  entered  Manchester  College,  North 
Manchester,  Indiana,  and  continued  three  years,  making 
good  use  of  her  privileges  there. 

Early  in  life  she  confessed  Christ,  united  with  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church,  and  was  earnest  and  active.  The 
Church  of  the  Brethren  had  a  mission  at  Williamsport, 
and  the  General  Mission  Board  assisted  in  building  a 
churchhouse  there.  Josephine  attended  a  love  feast  at 
this  place,  sought  the  Word  diligentlj',  and  in  March, 
1896,  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Since 
that  date  she  has  been  an  earnest  worker  for  the  Breth- 
ren. In  1906  she  offered  herself  as  a  missionary  to  India, 
was  approved  by  the  Conference  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
and  sailed  that  fall  for  her  chosen  field.  She  has  served 
most  of  her  time  at  Vada,  and  has  done  good  work.    Dur- 

377 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ing  the  absence  of  the  brother  and  family  in  charge, 
through  sickness  or  otherwise,  she  assumed  charge  of  the 
work,  assisting  a  new  missionary  in  directing  the  affairs 
of  the   station. 

She  is  just  home  on  her  first  furlough,  happy  in  serv- 
ice, glad  to  greet  the  churches,  and  anxious  to  do  all  for 
India  she  can. 


JOHN  W.   PRICE 
Member  General  Mission  Board,  1887-1893 

In  the  first  part  of  the  last  century  there  lived  two 
godly  people,  John  and  Catherine  Gear  Price,  in  Frank- 
lin County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  related  to  the  Prices 
that  emigrated  from  Germany  a  few  generations  before. 
About  1820  the  family  moved  to  Berkeley  County,  West 
Virginia,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Charlestown.  Here 
John  W.  was  born  on  February  9,  1823.  When  John  was  a 
lad  of  sixteen  summers,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ogle 
County,  Illinois.  The  family  settled  on  a  farm  a  few 
miles  south  of  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois.  Here  the  parents  lived 
and  died,  and  here  John  also  lived  until  he  passed  to  the 
beyond. 

School  privileges  were  meager  in  those  days.  While  a 
boy,  John  knew  more  about  hard  work  than  books;  for 
even  in  the  winter,  till  Christmas  or  after,  he  helped  to 
thresh  out  wheat  on  the  barn  floor,  by  the  slow  process  of 
"  tramping."  Alter  this  work  was  done,  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  attend  a  few  weeks  of  school  before  the  spring 
work  opened  up.  When  he  became  of  age,  he  attended 
several  terms  at  Rock  River  Seminary,  now  known  as 
Mt.  Morris  College.  Thus  prepared,  he  began  to  teach 
country  school,  continuing  that  work  for  a  number  of 
winters.  Along  with  this,  he  kept  up  his  farm  work  in 
a  very  successful  manner. 

In  1848  he  was  married  to.  Nancy  Rowland.  To  them 
were  born  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  six  of  whom  are 

378 


Biographical 

living,  and  four  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren. 

When  twenty-seven  years  old,  he  and  his  wife  confessed 
Christ,  baptism  being  administered  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Rock  River  congregation,  near  Franklin  Grove,  Illi- 
nois. Later,  in  1857,  when  the  Pine  Creek  congregation 
was  formed,  these  two  were  charter  members,  and  did 
not  remove  from  its  bounds  until  their  membership  was 
transferred  by  the  Father  to  the  glory  world.  In  1864  he 
was  elected  deacon  and  served  in  that  office  for  thirty 
years  as  a  good  man  full  of  the  spirit  of  faithfulness  and 
kindliness  to  all.  In  1887  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  District  Mission  Board  of  Northern  Illinois  and  Wis- 
consin, and  continued  until  1892.  In  1887  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  General  Mission  Board,  and  served  till 
1892.  He  was  a  wise  counselor  during  those  experimental 
days. 

He  was  'an  untiring  student  of  the  Word  of  God,  a 
great  reader  of  religious  literature,  and  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  the  Special  Bible  Terms  at  Mt.  Morris,  as  long  as 
he  lived.  It  was  his  delight  to  attend  Annual  Meeting, 
drink  from  its  overflowing  spiritual  fountains,  and  he 
was  more  than  overjoyed  when  permitted  to  return  from 
the  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania,  Conference,  in  1894,  with 
the  glad  news  that  the  church  was  sending  missionaries 
that  year  to  foreign  lands.  June  7,  1894, — two  days  after 
his  return, — with  the  vision  of  the  enlarged  church  on  the 
foreign  field  still  vivid  in  his  mind,  his  spirit  suddenly 
and  quietly  took  its  flight.  His  body  was  laid  to  rest  in 
the  Pine  Creek  cemetery  to  await  the  resurrection  morn. 


JAMES  QUINTER 

Member  of  'General  Mission  Board,  1880-1884 

John  Quinter  was  a  day  laborer  of  Philadelphia  with 
very  limited  means.  His  wife,  Mary  Smith,  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey.    To  them  were  born  two  daughters  and 

379 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

one  son, — the  latter,  James,  on  February  1,  1816.  In 
1824  the  family  moved  from  Philadelphia  to  Phoenixville, 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  father  and  little  son  worked  in 
the  iron  mills.  James,  with  donkey  and  cart,  gathered 
the  finished  product  from  the  workmen  and  placed  it  in 
the  stock  room.  When  thirteen  years  of  age,  his  father 
died  from  exposure  and  hard  labor,  and  the  burden  of 
supporting  the  family,  in  part,  fell  upon  the  lad's  young 
shoulders.  An  education  under  such  circumstances  was 
almost  beyond  reach;  yet  James  used  his  spare  moments 
in  reading  standard  books  and  studying  the  Bible,  and  his 
intense  desire  was  in  part  gratified  through  the  kindness 
of  friends  helping  him  to  get  books,  while  his  mother 
assisted  him  all  she  could.  He  became  a  successful 
school-teacher,  having  charge  of  the  school  at  Lumber- 
ville,  now  Port  Providence,  Pennsylvania,  for  seven  con- 
secutive years. 

On  September  17,  185U,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Daniel  Mosier.  By  this  union  one 
daughter  was  born.  In  1857  his  wife  died,  and  on  April 
11,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Fanny,  daughter  of  John  Stude- 
baker.  To  them  were  born  two  daughters, — Mary,  the 
older,  being  a  missionary  in  India, 

Brother  Quinter  inherited  a  deeply  religious  spirit.  This 
was  tenderly  developed  by  good  association,  and  espe- 
cially by  the  family  of  Abel  Fitzwater,  with  whom  he  lived 
a  while.  In  1831,  when  the  revival  wave  was  passing  over 
the  country,  he  was  deeply  wrought  upon  and  confessed 
Christ,  and  was  baptized  in  the  Coventry  church  when  sev- 
enteen years  old.  His  zeal  for  the  Lord  urged  him  for- 
ward by  leaps  and  bounds.  A  prayer  meeting  was  or- 
ganized,— the  first  in  the  Brotherhood, — where  he  wit- 
nessed for  Christ.  His  addresses  carried  such  conviction 
that  he  was  called  upon  to  preach  before  the  church  had 
called  him  to  the  ministry.  In  1838  he  was  elected  min- 
ister at  a  meeting  held  in  George  Price's  home,  and  in 
1856,  by  the  advice  of  the  bishops  assembled  at  Annual 
Meeting,  he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric.  After  being 
in  the  ministry  a  short  while,  he  moved  to  Western  Penn- 

380 


Biographical 

sylvania  and  took  charge  of  the  Ten  Mile  congregation, 
where,  during  the  first  six  months  of  his  pastorate,  some 
sixty  persons  united  with  the  church.  In  his  day  he  was  a 
leading  evangelist  of  the  Brotherhood.  In  1856  he  accept- 
ed a  position  as  assistant  editor  to  Henry  Kurtz,  and  did 
not  cease  his  editorial  labors  till  the  close  of  his  life, 
thirty-two  years  later.  In  1873  he  became  sole  proprietor 
of  the  "  Gospel  Visitor "  and  "  Christian  Family  Com- 
panion." In  1876  these  were  united  with  the  "  Pilgrim  " 
and  published  under  the  name  "  Primitive  Christian."  In 
1883  this  paper  was  united  with  the  "  Brethren  at  Work" 
and  published  under  the  name  "  Go.spel  Messenger."  In 
the  last  consolidation  Bfother  Quinter  was  made  Editor- 
in-chief,  which  position  he  held  till  his  death. 

He  was  a  friend  of  education,  even  if  he  had  had  poor 
opportunities  along  that  line  himself,  and  yet,  despite 
it  all,  did  so  well  in  life.  In  1861,  the  Brethren  having 
bought  a  school  property  in  New  Vienna,  Ohio,  he  under- 
took to  carry  on  a  Brethren's  school,  which  he  continued 
for  three  years,  closing  because  of  the  panic.  He  gave 
Juniata  College,  at  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  all  the  sup- 
port he  could,  and,  during  the  last  nine  years  of  his  life, 
was  President  of  the  College.  It  was  as  a  preacher  of 
righteousness,  while  connected  with  the  college,  that  the 
student  body  knew  Brother  Quinter  best.  Besides  his 
editorial  labors,  he  compiled,  in  1867,  a  hymn  book  which 
was  long  used  by  the  church.  He  held  several  debates, — 
the  "  Quinter  and  McConnell  Debate,"  on  the  doctrines  of 
immersion,  communion  and  feet-washing,  and  another  with 
S.  P.  Snyder  on  immersion,  were  his  most  noted  ones. 
Reports  of  these  two  debates  were  published  in  book  form. 
In  1886  he  published  "Trine  Immersion,"  an  able  defense 
of  the  doctrine  from  a  Biblical  and  historical  standpoint. 

His  heart  was  warm  for  a  world  evangelism,  and  he 
was  found  identified  with  every  aggressive  effort  to  win 
the  world  for  Christ.  When  the  plan  for  Foreign  and  Do- 
mestic Missions  was  formed,  in  1880,  he  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committee,  and  then  chosen  as  its  treasurer, 
which  position  he  filled  until  the  new  Board  was  formed. 

381 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

While  in  Conference  at  North  Manchester,  Indiana,  in 
1888,  and  engaged  in  leading  the  great  audience  in  prayer, 
the  Father  whom  he  loved  and  served  so  well,  stilled  his 
tongue.  When  near-by  brethren  looked  up,  because  of 
the  silence,  they  discovered  the  Lord  had  called  his  serv- 
ant home.  This  was  May  19.  While  the  entire  Brother- 
hood mourned,  his  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery 
at  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania. 


MARY  N.  QUINTER 
Missionary  to  India,  1903 

Near  New  Vienna,  Ohio,  lived  James  Quinter,  teaching 
the  Brethren's  children.  It  was  soon  after  his  second 
marriage,  when  Fanny  J.  Studebaker  became  his  wife, 
that  he  began  the  school.  To  them,  on  January  21,  1863, 
Mary  was  born.  While  she  was  yet  a  child,  Brother  Quin- 
ter moved  his  family  to  Columbiana,  Ohio,  where  he  edit- 
ed the  "  Gospel  Visitor."  From  this  place  they  moved  to 
Covington,  Ohio,  and  then  to  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania, 
where   Brother   Quinter   continued   his   editorial  work. 

Mary  had  a  good  spiritual  heritage  and  responded  to 
its  influence  in  1876  when,  a  little  over  thirteen  years  old, 
she  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  through  baptism  administered  by  C.  G.  Lint. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  family  moved  to  Hunting- 
don, Pennsylvania,  where  Sister  Quinter  still  resides  in 
the  old  home. 

In  1877  Mai-y  entered  the  Normal  School  at  Huntingdon, 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1883  in  the  Normal  English 
Course.  She  taught  school  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey for  several  years.  Upon  the  death  of  her  father,  in 
1888,  she  returned  home,  to  live  with  her  mother.  In 
1891  she  completed  "  Quinter's  Life  and  Letters,"  an  in- 
teresting biography  of  her  father,  a  book  that  every  reader 
prizes.  In  1895  she  accepted  a  position  as  librarian  of 
Juniata  College,  which  position  she  filled  until  1902.     At 

382 


Biographical 

this  time  the  General  Mission  Board  called  her  to  take  up 
mission  work  among  the  children  in  Chicago.  This  ex- 
perience led  her  to  offer  herself  for  the  foreign  field,  and 
in  1903  she  was  sent  to  India. 

On  the  field  she  has  done  commendable  work.  She  has 
the  supervision  of  the  Widows'  Home  at  Jalalpor, — a  posi- 
tion carrying  with  it  concern  for  the  welfare  of  some  of 
the  most  unfortunate  of  India's  wretched  ones.  She  was 
home  on  furlough  in  1910-1911,  and  spent  some  time 
among  the  churches  where  her  messages  were  heard 
gladly. 


SAMUEL   RIDDLESBERGER 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1884-1894 

To  Jacob  and  Josephine  (Foreman)  Riddlesberger,  res- 
idents of  Waynesboro,  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  on  July  1,  1823,  a  son  whom  they  called  Samuel. 
He  was  the  fourth  child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Poverty  marked  the  pathway  of  the  parents, 
who  were  engaged  in  farming,  and  as  soon  as  Samuel 
was  old  enough  to  become  a  bread  winner,  even  in  a 
small  way,  he  was  put  out  to  work  on  the  farm.  Thus  it 
was  that  he  received  but  two  months'  training  in  the 
schoolroom,  and  grew  up  to  manhood  a  hard-working 
man.  In  1845  he  came  to  Franklin  Grove,  Illinois,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  a  successful  business  man  and 
farmer,  seeking  "  to  do  good  unto  all  men  "  and  enjoyed 
the  accumulation  of  some  property  in  his  advanced  years. 

Though  his  parents  did  not  confess  Christ,  they  sought 
to  instill  proper  ideals  into  the  hearts  of  their  children. 
Judging  from  Samuel's  interest  in  church  work  in  later 
years,  he  would  have  been  one  to  attend  Sunday-school, 
had  there  been  one  within  reach  when  a  young  man.  In 
1849  he  confessed  Christ  by  uniting  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  the  Rock  River  congregation,  near  Franklin 
Grove,   Illinois,  Joseph   Emmert  baptizing  him.      In   1869 

383 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

he  was  called  to  the  deacon's  office,  in  which  capacity  he 
was  a  most  faithful  and  active  man.  When  the  church 
took  up  Sunday-school  work,  he  was  a  willing  worker  and 
a  regular  attendant  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  go. 

Choosing  Mary  A.  Foreman  as  a  life  companion,  they 
were  united  in  marriage  on  March  14,  1844.  To  them  were 
born  five  sons  and  eight  daughters,  of  whom  seven  are 
living  and  four  have  confessed  Christ. 

When  the  General  Mission  Board  was  organized,  in 
1884,  he  was  elected  a  member  and  served  ten  years. 
Though  lacking  in  education,  he  was  a  man  of  tact  and 
ability  that  made  him  very  valuable  for  the  Board.  On 
December  6,  1887,  he  was  appointed  a  solicitor  for  endow- 
ment in  Northern  Illinois,  and  through  subscription 
brought  in  upwards  of  $50,000.  In  fact,  he  was  the  first 
solicitor  that  brought  the  Board  good  returns  for  his 
labors.  His  manner  of  approach  begat  confidence,  and 
more  than  one  member  asked  him,  "Well,  Brother  Rid- 
dlesberger,  how  much  do  you  think  I   ought  to  give?" 

After  an  illness  of  about  one  year  he  peacefully  passed 
away,  and  his  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Emmert  ceme- 
tery, near  Franklin  Grove,  Illinois. 


AMOS  W.    ROSS 

Missionary  to  India,  1904 

Robert  Ross,  a  Clark  County,  Ohio,  boy,  came  west  with 
his  parents,  who  located  on  a  farm  near  Sidney,  Indiana, 
in  1849.  Here,  later  on,  he  married  Susan  Snell,  a  sister 
to  the  Snell  brothers,  four  of  whom  have  been  faithful 
ministers  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  To  Robert  and 
Susan  Ross  was  born,  on  September  27,  1879,  their  son 
Amos,  the  second  child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  one 
daughter.  After  he  was  ten  years  old  he  made  good 
progress  in  public  school,  though  he  always  had  to  work 
hard  for  all  the  development  he  gained.  In  1896  he  en- 
tered   Manchester    College,    North    Manchester,    Indiana, 

384 


Plate   14 


Opposite   384 


S.  Olive  Widdowson     J.    I.    Kaylor  Mrs.   J.   I.   Kaylor 

Q.    A.    Holsopple      Mrs.    Q.    A.    Holsopple 
Anna   Ebj-  J.    F.    Graybill  Mrs.    J.    F.    Graybill 


Biographical 

and  applied  himself  closely  for  two  years.  In  1899  he 
took  up  Bible  and  Academic  Classical  Courses  in  Mt. 
Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  completing  both 
with  the  class  of  1902.  In  1903  he  accepted  a  pastorate 
at  Sterling,  Colorado,  where,  with  all  his  ability,  he  began 
to  develop  the  congregation.  He  was  there  a  little  over 
one  year,  during  which  time  a  chutch  was  erected  and 
dedicated,  and  a  number  added  to  the  fold.  At  the 
Carthage  Conference,  in  1904,  he  was  invited  by  the 
Board  to   go  to   India,  and   responded   readily. 

At  Mt.  Morris  College  he  met  Flora  J.  Nickey,  a  daugh- 
ter of  A.  J.  Nickey,  of  Nebraska,  and  on  June  12,  1902, 
at  her  home,  they  were  united  in  marriage.  To  them  have 
been   born   two   daughters. 

Not  until  at  Manchester  College,  the  second  year,  did 
Amos  yield  his  heart  to  the  Lord.  He  confessed  Christ 
while  T.  T.  Myers  was  holding  a  series  of  meetings  in  the 
college,  and  was  baptized  on  January  22,  1898,  by  E.  M. 
Cobb.  Within  a  year  the  Spring  Creek  congregation,  oi 
Indiana,  called  him  to  the  ministry.  At  Mt.  MoVris  Col- 
lege, through  hearing  Bertha  Ryan,  D.  L.  Miller,  and 
others,  speak  on  missions,  his  heart  was  set  on  the  for- 
eign field.  In  1901  he  started  the  agitation  which  resulted 
in  the  Mt.  Morris  College  Missionary  Society.  This  or- 
ganization selected  Daniel  J.  Lichty  to  represent  them  on 
the  field,  obligating  itself  to  support  him.  In  India  his 
station  has  been  at  Vyara,  where  now  there  are  a  number 
of  village  schools,  a  boarding  school  and  a  large  area  for 
evangelistic  work, — all  under  his  supervision.  He  is  just 
home  on  his  first  furlough,  and  is  campaigning  for  mis^ 
sions. 


MRS.  AMOS  W.  ROSS,  NEE  FLORA  NICKEY 

Missionary  to  India,  1904 

A.  J.  Nickey,  born  in  Lower  Cumberland  Valley  of 
Pennsylvania,  formerly  of  Oakley,  Illinois,  but  now  lo- 
cated near  Juniata,  Nebraska,  has  always  been  aggressive 

385 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

in  missions.  Mary  Heckman,  daughter  of  John  and  Bar- 
bara Heckman,  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Illinois,  became  his  wife 
on  May  2,  1880.  Both  have  a  godly  heritage  in  their 
parents;  both  have  sought  to  transmit  it  to  their  children. 
To  them,  on  May  5,  1881,  was  born  their  daughter  Flora, 
the  oldest  child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  four  are  living.  After  public  school  life, 
of  which  Flora  made  good  use,  she  entered  Mt.  Morris 
College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  in  1899,  and  continued  nearly 
four  years. 

On  June  12,  1902,  she  was  united  hand  and  heart  to 
Amos  Ross  at  her  father's  home  near  Juniata,  Nebraska, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  two  daughters. 

At  eleven  years  old,  while  Solomon  Bucklew  was  con- 
ducting a  series  of  meetings  in  the  Oakley  congregation 
of  Southern  Illinois,  Flora  confessed  Christ  and  was  re- 
ceived into  the  church  by  baptism.  None  ever  entered  the 
service  of  the  Master  with  a  greater  consecration.  At 
twelve  she  was  teaching  a  Sunday-school  class  and  has 
been  an  active  worker  since.  At  college  she  was  inter- 
ested especially  in  all  religious  work,  and  there  volun- 
teered for  missions.  In  India,  with  the  village  school 
work,  as  well  as  boarding  school  under  her  husband's 
care,  she  has  many  duties  besides  the  care  of  the  family 
that  God  has  given  her.  Her  parents  at  home  are  a 
constant  stimulus  to  faithfulness  if  she  needed  it,  but 
she  has  supplemented  her  husband's  work  well  and  ef- 
fectually. 


COLLIN  P.  ROWLAND 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1884-1885 

To  John  and  Susan  (Puterbaugh)  Rowland,  prosperous 
farmers  living  in  Cherry  Grove  Township,  a  few  miles 
north  of  Lanark,  Carroll  County,  Illinois,  was  born  on 
October  18,  1849,  a  son  whom  they  called  Collin.  He  was 
the  second  child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 

386 


Biographical 

ter.  He  availed  himself  of  the  training  offered  by  the 
common  schools,  but  put  in  most  of  his  time  on  the  farm. 

On  February  6,  1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sa- 
rah A.,  daughter  of  Otho.  and  Anna  Boyd,  and  to  them 
were  born  two  sons.  They  remained  on  a  farm  in  Cherry 
Grove  Township  till  April  10,  1906,  when  they  moved  into 
Lanark,  Illinois,  where  they  now  reside. 

While  Daniel  Dierdorfif  and  Levi  Ttostle  were  holding 
meetings  in  the  Cherry  Grove  congregation,  Collin  was 
one  who  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  S.  Mattis  administering  baptism  on  Febru- 
ary 20,  1874.  In  1880  the  congregation  called  him  to  the 
deacon's  office.  Ten  years  later,  on  May  20,  1890,  he  was 
elected  to  the  ministry.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  on 
June  15,  1890,  in  the  Cherry  Grove  house,  using  for  his 
text  1  Cor.  2:  1-2.  He  was  ordained  to  the  bishop's  office 
May  19,  1898,  Brethren  I.  B.  Trcut  and  Wm.  Eisenbise 
laying   on   hands   in   the    ordination. 

While  Northern  Illinois  was  organizing  and  directing 
the  Danish  mission,  before  1880,  he  was  treasurer  for  the 
District,  and  forwarded  the  first  thousand  dollars  sent 
by  the  Brotherhood  to  foreign  lands.  He  served  as  Sec- 
retary-Treasurer of  the  District  Mission  Board  of  North- 
ern Illinois  and  Wisconsin  for  twenty  years.  When  the 
General  Mission  Board  was  formed,  in  1884,  he  was 
elected  a  member  for  the  short  term.  Of  late  years  he 
has  taken  great  interest  in  holding  series  of  meetings  in 
the  border  lands  of  the  Brotherhood,  spending  much  time 
in  Wisconsin,  Michigan  and  Canada.  The  southern  part 
of  the  United  States  has  also  received  considerable  atten- 
tion. 


B.  MARY  ROYER 

Missionary  to  India,  1913 

Benjamin  Royer  grew  up  on  a  farm  near  Talmage,  Lan- 
caster County,  Pennsylvania.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Laura  Buch,  was  a  devoted   Christian   girl,  a 

387 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

member  of  the  Evangelical  Association.  They  were  mar- 
ried early  in  life  and  B.  Mary  gladdened  their  home  Au- 
gust 30,  1881,  Seventeen  months  after,  the  mother  passed 
beyond,  and  Mary  was  taken  to  her  Grandmother  Buch, 
a  widow,  to  be  cared  for.  During  the  winter  they  lived 
in  Richland,  Pennsylvania,  with  an  uncle  of  Mary,  where 
she  received  her  public  school  education.  The  summers 
were  spent  at  Rothsville,  with  a  great-aunt, — dreamy  days 
for  Mary,  as  she  spent  her  childhood  under  the  quiet  in- 
fluences of  these  two  elderly  people.  Since  the  age  of 
fourteen,  Mary's  home  has  been  with  her  uncle  in  Rich- 
land. Here,  through  her  aunt,  who  is  a  member,  she  be- 
came acquainted  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Dur- 
ing the  years  1903  and  '04  she  worked  in  the  bindery  of 
the  Brethren  Publishing  House,  and  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Elgin  congregation  in  Illinois.  In  1907  she  com- 
pleted the  English  Bible  Course  at  Elizabethtown  Col- 
lege, Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania.  In  1909  she  gradu- 
ated from  the  Bible  Teachers'  Training  School,  of  New 
York  City.  She  then  taught  Bible  and  English  for  two 
years  in  Hebron  Seminary,  at  Nokesville,  Virginia.  Dur- 
ing the  spring  of  1913  she  worked  on  a  nurse's  course  at 
Battle  Creek  Sanitarium  in  Michigan,  the  better  to  pre- 
pare herself  for  her  life  work. 

She  prizes  most  the  Christian  influence  of  her  Grand- 
mother Buch.  While  her  grandmother  taught  her  Bible 
stories,  the  real  story  of  proper  Christian  living  was 
breathed  into  her  soul  day  by  day  by  that  dear  foster 
mother.  While  Hiram  Gibbel  was  holding  a  series  of 
meetings  in  the  Tulpehocken  congregation,  in  the  winter 
of  1897,  Mary  confessed  Christ  and  was  baptized  on  Christ- 
mas Day  by  Brother  John  Herr.  Her  training  at  Eliza- 
bethtown College,  in  the  midst  of  its  religious  influence, 
was  the  next  greatest  blessing  in  her  life.  She  was  an 
active  Sunday-school  worker,  taught  teacher-training 
classes  both  at  home  and  in  Hebron  Seminary,  and  has 
been  a  conscientious  witness  for  Christ  wherever  she 
went.  She  sails  this  fall  to  her  chosen  field  of  labor,  to 
do  her  best  for  the  Master  among  India's  heathen. 

388 


Biographical 

GALEN  B.  ROYER 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1910 — 

J.  G.  Royer's  ancestors  are  of  Swiss  descent.  In  Eu- 
rope they  were  Lutherans,  but  for  the  past  five  genera- 
tions, members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  He  is 
known  in  the  Brotherhood  as  an  educator, — having  taught 
school  for  fifty  years.  He  was  President  of  Mt.  Morris 
College  for  twenty  years,  and  is  well-known  as  an  evan- 
gelist. Elizabeth  Reiflf,  who,  on  December  8,  1861,  became 
his  wife,  is  of  German  extraction,  the  relationship  going 
back  to  the  Harleys,  Titlows  and  Stouffers  of  earlier 
days.  To  these  two,  who  had  confessed  Christ  before  they 
were  seventeen,  were  given  one  son  and  seven  daugh- 
ters, Galen  B.,  born  September  8,  1862,  being  the  eldest. 
His  education  in  the  public  school  was  under  his  father 
until  he  secured  a  certificate  to  teach.  After  teaching 
country  school  two  winter  terms,  he  entered  Juniata  Col- 
lege, Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  and  graduated  in  the  Nor- 
mal English  Course  in  1883.  He  then  entered  Mt.  Morris 
College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  teaching  music  and  contin- 
uing his  studies  for  one  year.  For  several  j-ears  he  joined 
his  father  in  the  management  of  Mt.  Morris  College.  He 
received  diplomas  from  the  Commercial  Department  of 
Mt.  Morris  College  and  the  Northern  Indiana  Business 
Institute,  Valparaiso,  in  1887.  He  was  principal  of  the 
Commercial  Department  of  Mt.  Morris  College  two  years. 
In  1889  he  was  appointed  assistant  to  D.  L.  Miller,  Sec- 
retary of  the  General  Mission  Board.  In  1890  he  was 
elected  Secretary  of  the  Board.  About  1893  he  resigned 
his  position  in  Mt.  Morris  College,  to  give  needed  time 
to  the  work  of  the  Mission  Board.  He  also  acted  as 
General  Agent  for  D.  L.  Miller's  "  Wanderings  in  Bible 
Lands."  In  addition  to  his  regular  duties  as  Secretary  of 
the  General  Mission  Board,  he  was  head  bookkeeper  of 
the  Publishing  House  when  the  publishing  interests  came 
under  the  control  of  the  Board,  1897,  continuing  in  that 
work  for  three  years.  In  1906,  as  architect  and  superin- 
tendent of  construction,  he  erected  the  north  half  of  the 

389 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

present  Publishing  House  building.  On  May  26,  1900,  he 
was  elected  Treasurer  of  the  General  Mission  Board. 

On  March  5,  1885,  Galen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna 
M.,  a  daughter  of  Abram  Miller,  of  Washington  County, 
Maryland,  and  a  sister  of  D.  L.  Miller,  well  known  in  the 
Brotherhood,  whose  fatherly  help  thfough  the  years  had 
been  most  unusual.  To  them  have  been  born  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  Mrs.  Kathren  Holsopple,  the  third 
child,  serving  the  Lord  in  India. 

To  his  godly  parents  Galen  owes  much  in  his  spiritual 
life.  When  eleven  years  old,  while  Joseph  Leedy  was  con- 
ducting a  revival  in  the  high  school  room  at  Burnetts 
Creek,  Indiana,  he  confessed  Christ,  and  by  baptism,  ad- 
ministered by  John  S.  Snowberger,  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  on  February  22,  1874.  During  his  college 
days  he  was  Sunday-school  teacher  and  superintendent; 
by  the  Mt.  Morris  congregation.  Northern  Illinois,  called 
to  the  ministry  on  March  9,  1889,  and  advanced  on  March 
8,  1890;  in  the  Elgin  congregation,  Northern  Illinois,  on 
July  9,  1907,  he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the  lay- 
ing on  of  hands  by  E.  B.  Hoff  and  Callo  Fahrney.  The 
oversight  of  the  Elgin  congregation  was  placed  in  his 
hands  from  January  1,  1S)08,  to  May  1,  1913.  He  always 
rejoiced  to  engage  in  evangelistic  labors,  when  oppor- 
tunity permitted.  He  represented  Northern  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  on  the  Standing  Committee  of  Annual  Meet- 
ing of  1910  at  Winona  Lake,  and  served  as  Reading  Clerk 
of  that  Meeting.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Committee 
framing  the  "  Dress  Report,"  adopted  at  the  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  Conference  of  1911.  He  visited  the  churches  of 
Europe  in  1907,  in  company  with  Chas.  D.  Bonsack,  a 
nine  weeks'  trip;  again  in  1910,  with  his  wife,  a  five 
months'  trip.  The  Conference  of  1913  appointed  him  to 
visit  the  churches  of  China  and  India  in  company  with 
H.    C.   Early. 

He  is  author  of  twelve  volumes  of  "  Bible  Biographies 
for  the  Young."  He  edited  the  "  Missionary  Visitor " 
from  its  beginning  till  April  11,  1912.  With  D.  L.  Miller 
he  is  joint  author  of  "  Some  Who  Led." 

390 


Biographical 

SAMUEL  D.  ROYER 
Member  of  Book  and  Tract  Work,   1885-1894 

In  Buffalo  Valley,  Union  County,  Pennsylvania,  there 
lived  a  godly  man,  Jacob  Royer.  His  wife,  Susanna,  was 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Susanna  (Eikenberry)  Myers. 
His  activities  in  the  church  in'  his  day  made  him  easily 
a  recognized  leader.  To  Jacob  and  Susanna  were  born 
five  sons  and  two  daughters.  Samuel,  born  on  June  3, 
1840,  was  the  seventh  child  in  the  family.  They  had  a 
good  farm  in  the  valley  and  prospered.  Samuel  enjoyed 
the  work  of  the  farm  and  did  not  avail  himself  of  more 
schooling  than  the  common  schools  offered  him.  In 
May,  1864,  he  moved  to  Darke  County,  Ohio,  and  finally 
settled  on  a  farm  north  of  Bradford,  in  Miami  County, 
where  he  and  his  family  still  reside. 

Mary,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Mummert,  became  his 
wife  on  December  19,  1865,  and  to  this  union  was  born  one 
daughter. 

When  Samuel  was  but  eighteen  years  old, — October, 
1858, — he  confessed  Christ  and  by  baptism,  administered 
by  Isaac  Myers,  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
He  was  always  willing  to  do  all  within  his  ability  for 
the  church.  He  led  the  advanced  effort  for  Sunday-school 
and  mission  work  where  he  lived.  In  1878  he  was  called 
to  the  deacon's  office  by  the  Harris  Creek  congrega- 
tion and  so  faithfully  proved  himself  a  servant,  that  in 
November,  1885,  the  same  congregation  elected  him  to 
the  ministry,  and  in  1888,  advanced  him  to  the  second 
degree. 

His  services  on  the  Book  and  Tract  Work  were  appre- 
ciated, for  he  was  one  of  the  first  appointed,  given  a  three- 
year  term  to  begin  with,  and  was  reappointed  as  long  as 
the  organization  existed.  During  the  nine  years  he  missed 
but  one  meeting  of  the  Committee.  He  rejoices  over  the 
work  accomplished,  and  his  services  brought  him  many 
spiritual  blessings. 


391 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

SAMUEL  F.  SANGER 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1893-1901,  1903-1906 

Near  Harrisonburg,  Virginia,  this  youngest  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  Sanger  was  born  on  February  4,  1849.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  the  German  pioneer  preacher, 
John  Flory,  who  made  two  trips  to  Ohio  on  horseback, 
and  labored  among  the  churches  in  the  Miami  Valley 
about  one  hundred  years  ago.  Reared  on  the  farm,  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  in  a  rather  limited  way,  and 
stirred  by  the  horrors  of  the  Civil  War,  Samuel  finally 
reached  his  manhood.  When  twenty  years  of  age,  he 
made  a  trip  as  far  west  as  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  and 
while  in  Iowa,  among  some  relatives,  taught  one  term  of 
school  in  the  Prairie  schoolhouse,  about  two  miles  east 
of  South  English,  Iowa.  After  returning  to  Virginia,  he 
taught  three  terms  more.  In  1874  he  located  at  Luray, 
Virginia,  and  joined  Dr.  W.  S.  Cline  in  the  drug  business. 
In  a  short  time  he  bought  out  his  partner,  moved  the  busi- 
ness to  Bridgewater,  and  there  carried  on  a  drug  and 
general  merchandise  store  for  about  twenty  years.  In 
1896  he  moved  to  Calverton  and  later  to  Manassas,  Vir- 
ginia. In  December,  1899,  he  located  at  South  Bend,  In- 
diana, where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  medicines. 
In  1910  he  moved  his  family  to  Empire,  a  new  colony  in 
Northern  California,  which  he  helped  to  organize  and  es- 
tablish. 

In  1872  he  was  married  to  Rebecca  Thomas,  who  died 
about  eighteen  months  after,  leaving  him  a  little  daugh- 
ter. In  1875  he  married  Susan  A.  Thomas,  a  sister  of  his 
former  wife,  who  died  in  1898,  leaving  him  four  children. 
October  3,  1899,  he  was  married  to  Matilda  Beachy,  nee 
Yoder,   of   Elk   Lick,   Pennsylvania. 

When  but  sixteen  and  one-half  years  old  he  united  with 
the  church,  Solomon  Garber  baptizing  him  on  August  30, 
1865.  In  1873  he  was  elected  deacon;  in  1876  he  was 
called  to  the  ministry,  two  years  later  advanced  to  the 
second  degree  and  in  1892  ordained  to  the  bishopric.    He 

392 


Biographical 

presided  over  the  Midland  congregation,  Viiginia,  three 
years;  the  Nokesville  congregation,  Virginia,  two  years. 
He  gave  much  time  to  church  work  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  Eastern  Virginia,  and  the  mountain  mission  fields 
near  by.  After  moving  to  Indiana,  he  had  oversight  of 
some  four  congregations,  besides  taking  an  active  part  in 
building  up  the  congregation  in  South  Bend.  Five  times 
he  served  as  Moderator  of  District  Meeting  in  Northern 
Indiana,  five  times  as  member  of  Standing  Committee  of 
Conference,  twice  as  its  Moderator,  and  once  as  Reading 
Clerk.  He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  Bridgewater 
College,  and  served  as  its  first  Secretary.  He  was  also  a 
trustee  of  Manchester  College,  in  Indiana,  and  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  a  number  of  committees,  of  which  the  fram- 
ing of  the  constitution,  governing  the  church's  Educa- 
tional Board,  is  worthy  of  special  mention. 

In  1893  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  General  Mis- 
sion Board  and  rendered  faithful  and  conscientious  serv- 
ice for  ten  years.  Of  the  work  of  the  General  Mission 
Board  he  has  this  to  say  in  May,  1913: 

During  the  time  I  was  connected  with  the  General 
Mission  Board  I  had  the  privilege  of  seeing  much  of 
its  work,  from  the  beginning  of  our  mission  work  in  the 
foreign  fields  and  the  rapid  strides  which  have  been  made 
in  so  short  a  time,  as  well  as  the  changes  which  have 
been  made  in  our  publishing  interests. 

I  recall,  with  some  sense  of  humility,  the  time  when 
our  first  missionaries  for  the  India  field  came  before 
the  Board,  and  by  them  were  presented  to  the  Standing 
Committee,  at  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania,  in  1894.  There 
was  no  small  amount  of  misgivings  about  so  great  an 
undertaking,  as  well  as  some  rather  injudicious  criti- 
cisms. 

As  I  now  look  back  over  the  ten  years  of  my  connec- 
tion with  the  Board,  and  see  the  increased  number  of 
workers  who  have  been  sent  into  the  field,  from  time  to 
time,  as  well  as  the  noble  support  given  them  by  the 
church,  I  am  more  than  surprised. 

I  also  recall,  with  pleasure,  the  work  of  the  publishing 
interests  of  the  church,  and  when  I  think  of  the  small 
two-story  frame  building,  with  some  five  or  six  rooms, 
located  on  one  corner  of  the  campus  at  Mt.  Morris  Col- 

393 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

lege,  in  which  about  all  our  printing  was  done,  less  than 
fifteen  years  ago,  and  now  consider  the  large,  well- 
equipped  Publishing  House  at  Elgin,  Illinois,  with  the 
increased  business  of  the  House,  I  recall  the  predictions, 
freely  made  of  its  failure,  should  the  church  attempt  to 
own  and  control  this  business. 

The  Brotherhood  should  ever  appreciate  the  careful- 
ness with  which  the  Mission  Board  has  conducted  her 
missionary  and  publishing  interests,  not  overlooking  the 
fact  that  so.  much  of  this  work  had  to  pass  through  the 
experimental  stages.  All  these  years  of  labor  by  this 
Board  has  been  done  without  any  compensation  for  time, 
but  not  without  sacrifice  by  its  members,  although  cheer- 
fully done. 


MRS.  HARVEY  F.  SHIRK,  NEE  BERTHA  RYAN 
Missionary  to  India,  1894  to  1900 

In  1887  Jacob  S.  Ryan  and  his  wife,  Polly  C.  Grove,  both 
members  of  other  denominations,  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Soon  after  Brother  Ryan  was  called  to 
the  ministry  and  served  the  church  well  until  his  death. 
To  them  was  given  the  joy  of  four  girls,  Bertha,  the  sec- 
ond, being  born  December  18,  1872,  on  a  farm  near  Alvo, 
Nebraska.  Bertha  attended  school  in  the  country  and 
after  thirteen  years  of  age  worked  in  some  one's  kitchen 
during  vacations,  so  as  to  earn  money  for  books  and 
clothes.  At  sixteen  she  was  possessor  of  a  certificate  to 
teach  school,  but  took  another  year  of  training  in  the 
Greenwood  high  school.  Then  she  taught  two  terms, 
spent  the  winter  of  1890-'91  at  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois,  taught  a  few  terms,  entered  McPherson 
College,  McPherson,  Kansas  and  spent  a  year;  then,  at 
the  invitation  of  Alice  J.  Boone,  she  worked  in  the  chil- 
dren's mission  in  Chicago  one  year. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  she  confessed  Christ.  It  was 
while  attending  school  in  Greenwood,  during  a  Methodist 
revival  that  Bertha  confessed  Christ.  She  was  born  anew 
on  April  9,  1889,  G.  W.  Stambaugh  administering  baptism. 
She   was   fervent  in   prayer,  loved   quiet  meditation,  and 

394 


Biographical 

rejoiced  in  her  Lord.  While  at  McPherson,  the  idea  of 
consecrating  her  life  to  missions  was  definitely  formed  and 
she  was  approved  as  a  missionary  by  the  Conference  of 
1894  at  Meyersdale,  Pennsylvania,  to  go  out  with  Brother 
and  Sister  Stover.  In  India  she  endeared  herself  to  the 
people  because  of  her  heart  touch  in  her  labors.  It  was 
Bertha  who  made  the  two  fi'rst  trips  into  the  Central 
Provinces  during  the  famine  and  brought  back  a  party 
of  orphans  each  time,  thus  forming  the  nucleus  of  that 
splendid  orphanage  work  of  India.  She  began  a  Sunday- 
school  movement  among  English-speaking  children  that 
stirred  the  opposition  of  the  Catholics,  and  had  to  be 
closed.  Upon  her  return  on  furlough,  in  1900,  she  wrote 
the  appeal  for  help  for  suffering  India,  which  brought  forth 
the  largest  offering  the  Brotherhood  ever  made  at  one 
time  for  one  cause. 

While  at  home  on  furlough,  she  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Harvey  F.  Shirk,  on  August  7,  1900.  They  entered  a 
medical  college  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  with  a  view 
of  better  preparation  for  the  field.  After  a  year  in  school 
their  plans  were  changed,  and  they  now  reside  at  Elgin, 
Oklahoma.  God  has  given  them  two  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  it  is  the  fond  hope  of  the  mother  that 
some  day  one  or  more  of  her  children  will  take  her  place 
in  the  field  on  which  she  was  not  permitted  to  continue. 


IDA  C.  SHUMAKER 

Missionary  to  India,  1910 

To  Alexander  E.  and  Lydia  Elizabeth  (Lint)  Shumaker 
were  given  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  Ida  C, 
the  fourth  child,  was  born  October  27,  1873,  in  Meyers- 
dale,  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania.  Ida  attended  the 
public  school  of  the  village  and  on  May  7,  1889,  was  one 
of  the  two  members  of  the  first  class  to  graduate  there- 
from. At  once  she  began  to  teach  in  the  primary  depart- 
ment of  her  home  village  school,  and  continued  with  ever- 

395 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

increasing  success  for  twenty-one  consecutive  terms.  Dur- 
ing this  time  she  taught  a  model  school  for  three  sum- 
mers, and  during  another  summer  gave  lectures  to 
teachers. 

WTien  but  twelve  years  old,  while  attending  a  revival 
in  the  Meyersdale  congregation,  conducted  bj-  John  S. 
Flory,  she  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  by  baptism  administered  by  him.  This 
opened  a  new  field  of  service,  into  which  she  threw  her 
whole  heart.  From  childhood,  for  thirty-one  years,  she 
missed  only  two  Sundays  from  Sunday-school, — one  when 
she  was  sick  and  the  other  on  account  of  high  waters. 
When  but  eleven  years  of  age,  she  took  charge  of  the 
infant  class  in  the  Sunday-school,  kept  it,  and  taught  the 
scholars  to  the  point  when  all  but  two  of  those  enrolled 
had  confessed  Christ.  At  the  time  of  her  appointment  for 
India  she  had  charge  of  the  Primary  and  Beginners'  De- 
partment of  the  Meyersdale  Sunday-school,  and  was  home 
department  visitor  to  twenty-nine  members,  to  reach  all 
of  whom  more  than  ten  miles  had  to  be  traveled. 
She  edited  the  Primary  Department  of  the  "Breth- 
ren Teachers'  Monthly,"  and  besides  had  time  to  visit 
the  sick  and  unfortunate  at  home.  At  our  Annual  Con- 
ferences she  was  much  in  demand  on  Sunday-school  day. 
She  has  always  received  more  calls  than  she  could  an- 
swer at  conventions  of  Sunday-schools,  public  schools 
and  general  church  gatherings.  In  1909  she  was  one  of 
the  speakers  at  the  Pennsylvania  State  Sunday-school 
Convention.  At  the  Somerset  County  Sunday-school  Con- 
vention, held  at  Windber,  where  Jacob  Riis,  of  New 
York,  the  noted  lecturer,  met  her,  and  saw  her  work  with 
children,  he  remarked  that  he  had  met  two  persons  who 
knew  how  to  handle  children. 

After  her  appointment  to  India,  she  dropped  all  these 
lines  of  endeavor  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  in  company 
with  R.  D.  Murphy,  District  Secretary,  toured  the  schools 
of  Western  Pennsylvania  in  behalf  of  her  mission  to 
India. 

396 


Biographical 

In  the  fall  of  1910  she  sailed  to  India  and  since  has 
been  working  in  the  Girls'  Orphanage  at  Bulsar.  None 
is  happier  in  service  than  Ida,  and  of  none  is  labor  more 
appreciated  than  hers. 


WILBUR  B.  STOVER 
Missionary  to  India,  1894 

The  families  of  Jacob  A.  and  Mary  Lesher  Stover  were 
tillers  of  the  soil  for  many  generations.  And  while  these 
two  were  living  on  the  Poplar  Spring  farm,  near  Green- 
castle,  Pennsylvania,  on  May  5,  1866,  their  son  Wilbur, 
the  first  of  four  sons  that  gladdened  their  hearts,  was 
born.  The  firstborn  died  in  infancy.  About  three  months 
after  his  birth  the  parents  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  and  in  less  than  a  year  Jacob  was  called  to  the 
ministry.  School-days  were  full  of  interest  to  Wilbur, 
and  he  sought  to  make  good  use  of  them.  But  in  1875, 
through  the  death  of  his  father,  the  care  of  the  family-  fell 
to  the  lone  mother.  She  kept  the  boys  together  till  Wil- 
bur found  work,  driving  a  milk  wagon  for  his  uncle,  and 
going  to  school  in  winter.  Xext  he  worked  on  a  farm 
and  then  worked  for  his  board  during  the  winter,  so  that 
he  might  continue  in  school.  But  he  proved  equal  to  the 
task.  In  night  school,  while  working  all  day.  and  through 
other  avenues,  he  pressed  forward.  In  1879  the  family 
moved  to  Dupage  County,  Illinois,  and  from  here,  in 
1884,  Wilbur  entered  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris, 
Illinois,  first  completing  the  Commercial  Course  in  1SS5, 
and  then  the  Academic  Classical  Course  with  the  class  of 
1889.  and  the  Seminary  Course  with  the  class  of  1891. 

While  in  college,  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Mary 
Emmert,  a  daughter  of  John  Emmert,  of  Northern  Illi- 
nois, and  on  June  29,  1893.  they  were  united  in  marriage. 
To  them  have  been  given  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
the  two  oldest  of  whom  have  confessed  Christ  as  their 
Savior. 

397 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

While  attending  school  at  Mt.  Morris,  and  during  a 
series  of  meetings  in  the  chapel,  conducted  by  E.  A.  Orr, 
Wilbur  confessed  Christ  and  was  baptized  by  D.  E.  Price 
on  March  8,  1885,  in  the  little  stream  about  two  miles 
east  of  town.  He  came  whole-hearted  and  became  active 
as  a  Christian  at  once.  In  the  autumn  of  1885  he  was 
elected  superintendent  of  the  primary  department  of  the 
Sunday-school.  In  March,  1891,  the  Mt.  Morris  con- 
gregation called  him  to  the  ministry.  In  1894  the  An- 
tietam  congregation,  of  Pennsylvania,  advanced  him  to 
the  second  degree;  and  in  India,  at  Bulsar,  in  April,  1901, 
he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands  by  S.  N.  McCann  and  D.  L.  Forney.  With  him 
accepting  Christ  was  to  accept  the  Master's  commission 
to  go.  Missions  at  once  became  his  daily  theme.  Whether 
he  spoke  in  prayer  meeting,  literary  society,  or  in  the 
quiet  walk,  for  exercise,  there  flowed  a  constant  stream  of 
pleading  for  missions  from  his  heart.  In  1892  he  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  Germantown  congregation  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Here  he  remained  one  year,  meanwhile  taking 
special  work  in  Temple  College.  Then  he  took  up  a 
campaign  of  developing  missionary  sentiment  for  India, 
so  that  some  one  could  go.  The  Conference  of  1894,  at 
Meyersdale,  approved  of  him  for  India.  The  following 
fall,  he  with  his  wife  and  Sister  Ryan,  started  on  the 
first  missionary  trip  to  real  heathen  soil.  All  was  new, — 
man,  field,  experience.  After  some  time  in  Bombay,  the 
party  wisely  located  at  Bulsar,  and  opened  up  work.  Until 
June,  1907,  Bulsar  was  Brother  Stover's  station  and  then 
the  field  committee  transferred  him  to  Ankleshwer,  where 
his  work  has  been  most  effectual.  In  a  way  he  has  been 
father  to  the  work  in  India  and  the  story  of  his  life  is 
almost  the  story  of  India  missions.  During  his  first  fur- 
lough home,  in  1902,  he  toured  the  Brotherhood  with  an 
enthusiasm  that  seemed  to  know  no  bounds.  He  served 
on  the  Standing  Committee  at  Harrisbu'rg,  Pennsylvania, 
representing  India;  on  his  second  furlough,  soon  closing, 
he  again  represented  India  on  the  Standing  Committee  at 
Winona  Lake,  Indiana.     In   1893  he  wrote  a  little  book 

398 


Biographical 

entitled  "  Charlie  Newcomer,"  that  had  a  good  circulation 
and  touched  many  a  heart.  On  his  first  furlough  he  pub- 
lished "  India  a  Problem  "  that  has  done  great  good  for 
missions  in  the  church.  On  his  last  furlough  he  prepared 
a  mission  study  book  by  invitation  of  the  Sunday-school 
Board,  entitled  "  Missions  and  the  Church."  Brother 
and  Sister  Stover  return  in  the  after-part  of  the  summer, 
leaving  two  and  perhaps  three  of  their  children  in  the 
homeland  to  be  educated. 


MRS.  WILBUR  B.  STOVER,  NEE  MARY  EMMERT 
Missionary   to   India,    1894 

To  John  and  Catherine  Zollers  Emmert,  living  on  a 
farm  north  of  Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll  County,  Illinois,  were 
given  a  son  and  a  daughter,  Mary  was  born  on  November 
4,  1871.  Her  father  was  a  faithful  bishop  in  Northern 
Illinois  and  in  his  prime  the  Arnold's  Grove  congregation, 
ovet  which  he  was  overseer,  was  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  District.  Mary  attended  school  in  Mt.  Carroll  until 
she  was  fifteen  years  old  and  in  September,  1887,  entered 
Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  where  she  com- 
pleted the  preparatory  course  with  the  class  of  1890.  She 
returned  ior  one  year  of  college  work  afterwards. 

On  June  29,  1893,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Wilbur 
B.  Stover,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three  sons  and 
two   daughters. 

Mary  received  strong  spiritual  tendencies  from  her  par- 
ents, but  not  until  she  was  sixteen,  and  while  at  Mt. 
Morris  College,  did  she  confess  Christ.  One  Thursday 
evening  the  Lord  found  her  in  prayer  meeting.  At  the 
close  of  the  service  J.  G.  Royer  shook  hands  with  her 
in  such  a  manner  that  she  feared  he  would  ask  her  to  be 
a  Christian.  Hurrying  to  her  room,  she  struggled,  gave 
up,  and  that  evening  yet,  with  heir  roommate, — now  Mrs. 
M.  M.  Sherrick, — sought  Brother  Royer  and  confessed 
her  Lord.    The  following  Sunday,  at  Silver  Creek,  through 

399 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

baptism  administered  by  Joseph  Amick,  she  united  with 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Mt.  Morris  congrega- 
tion. At  once  she  became  a  Sunday-school  teacher.  She 
sought  diligently  to  make  up  for  the  lost  years  of  her  life 
and  took  a  lively  interest  in  all  religious  exercises,  seek- 
ing to   do  her  part  with  characteristic  humility. 

She  was  happy  to  share,  with  her  husband,  the  hard- 
ships and  trials,  disappointments  and  joys  of  opening  a 
new  mission  in' India.  She  has  ably  supplemented  her  hus- 
band's efforts,  and  has  proved  a  wise  counselor  in  his 
work.  She  has  the  many  qualities  needful  to  be  called 
the  "  mother  of  the  India  church,"  and  her  relation  to 
the  kingdom  in  India,  as  well  as  her  service  and  sacri- 
fice for  it,  from  the  very  beginning,  entitles  her  to  the  des- 
ignation. She  is  now  on  her  second  furlough,  passing 
through  one  of  the  greatest  trials  of  her  life  as  she  is 
planning  to  leave,  in  the  homeland,  at  least  her  two  oldest 
children,  to  be  educated  while  she  will  return  with  her 
husband  to  India,  faithfully  to  stand  by  his  side. 

LEWIS  W.  TEETER 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1897-1903;  1906-1912 

Daniel  U.  Teeter,  of  German  extraction,  was  born  in 
Miami  County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Wayne  County  at 
about  the  age  o.f  ten.  He  was  a  successful  sawyer  and 
miller.  His  wife,  Sarah  Shultz,  a  native  of  Bedford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Wayne  County,  Indiana, 
when  about  eight  years  old.  Both  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in  the  Nettle  Creek  congregation,  the 
mother  in  1845  and  the  father  in  1849.  The  family  settled 
near  Hagerstown,  where,  on  October  15,  1845,  Lewis,  their 
second  child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, was  born.  It  was  through  close  application,  in  those 
early  days,  that  a  living  was  made  in  the  saw-milling 
business.  Lewis  was  kept  in  school,  both  public  and 
subscription,  about  six  months  each  year  until  fourteen, 
then  three  and  four  months  until  1865,  when  he  attended 

400 


Plate    15 


Opposite    400 


B.  Mary  Royer 

F.   J.   Wampler,   M.   D. 

Anna    V.    Blough 


H.    B.  Heisev  Mrs.    H.    B.    Heisey 

Mrs.    P.    J.    Wampler      Mr.    &    Mrs.    E.    Vaniman 
O.  G.  Brubaker,  M.  D.     Mrs.  O.  G.  Brubaker 


Biographical 

the  New  Castle  Academy  for  fifteen  weeks.  Then,  having 
a  bent  of  mind  for  an  education,  he  pursued,  by  private 
study,  for  a  number  of  years,  a  course  under  the  direc- 
tion of  professors  in  the  Hagerstown  schools,  and  other 
educators.  Thus  he  developed  his  ability  to  a  very  com- 
mendable extent.  He  has  always  lived  within  the  town- 
ship in  which  he  was  born.  During  the  years  1873-75  he 
followed  teaching;  from  1875  to  76  he  was  busy  in  a  saw- 
mill and  machine  shops. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  on  October  28,  1866,  to  Nancy 
Ellen,  the  daughter  of  David  Bowman.  To  them  were 
born  one  son,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  one  daughter  who, 
after  being  married  for  a  few  yeats,  was  called  to  the  bet- 
ter world,  leaving  an  only  grandchild  to  comfort  Brother 
and    Sister   Teeter's    declining   years. 

During  a  series  of  meetings,  held  in  the  Nettle  Creek 
congregation  of  Indiana,  under  the  preaching  of  Hiel 
Hamilton  and  Samuel  Murray,  Lewis  confessed  Christ  and 
was  baptized  by  George  R.  Baker,  of  Iowa,  on  January 
6,  1868.  Lewis  gave  his  all, — time  and  talent, — to  the 
Lord.  Musically  inclined,  he  was  a  splendid  violinist.  At 
first  he  consecrated  the  instrument  to  sacred  music  only, 
but,  as  the  years  passed  by,  he  laid  the  instrument  aside, 
not  using  it  even  for  the  dear  Master's  sake.  The  con- 
gregation recognized  his  consecration,  and  on  January  11, 
1869,  elected  him  church  clerk,  which  position  he  held  un- 
til about  1885.  On  August  7,  1869,  he  was  called  to  the 
deacon's  office.  Here  he  served  till  September  9,  1876, 
when  he  was  chosen  to  the  ministry.  He  preached  his 
first  sermon  on  October  27,  in  the  Stony  Creek  congre- 
gation of  the  Southern  District  of  Indiana,  from  Romans 
1:  16,  and  since  that  day  has  never  declined  to  preach 
when  invited,  unless  some  other  religious  engagement 
prevented  him.  He  has  been  a  successful  evangelist.  On 
December  13,  1879,  he  was  advanced  to  the  second  de- 
gree, and  on  October  IS,  1885,  ordained  to  the  bishopric 
through  the  laying  on  of  hands  by  Jacob  Reiff  and  Hi- 
ram Branscom.  The  same  day  he  was  given  the  over- 
sight  of  the   Nettle   Creek   congregation,   which  position 

401 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

he  still  occupies.  During  the  time  of  his  oversight  the 
church  has  prospered. 

Not  only  has  he  been  employed  as  bishop  of  his  con- 
gregation, but  in  larger  fields  he  has  also  bee«  called  to 
serve.  He  has  been  Moderator  of  his  District  Meeting 
twelve  times  and  Writing  Clerk  eleven  times.  He  has 
also  served  on  many  different  committees  in  the  District. 
He  served  his  State  District  a  number  of  years  as  evan- 
gelist; represented  it  on  Standing  Committee  eleven  years; 
was  Reading  Clerk  of  Conference  twice,  and  Moderator 
once.  He  has  served  on  many  church  committees  for  the 
Brotherhood,  among  the  more  important  being:  "On 
Church  Property,"  "  Gospel  Messenger  Advisory," 
"  Tract  Examining,"  and  the   General  Mission  Board. 

In  1894  he  published  a  "  Commentary  on  the  New  Tes- 
tament," that  has  been  stronglj'  commended  for  its  sound, 
doctrinal  teaching.  From  1896  to  1901  he  prepared  and 
edited  the  "Advanced  Sunday-school  Quarterly"  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 

On  the  General  Mission  Board  no  one  was  a  clearer  ex- 
pounder of  the  legal  phases  of  a  perplexing  question  which 
was  before  the  Board  sometimes,  than  he.  Often,  when 
the  Board  was  perplexed,  his  analysis  cleared  the  minds 
of  the  others,  and  quick  and  correct  action  followed.  His 
words,  in  relation  to  the  Board's  work,  carry  unusual 
weight.     He  writes  thus  in  May,  1913: 

My  twelve  years'  experience  on  the  Board  were  almost 
universal.  Almost  every  phase  of  missionary  operations 
and  every  form  of  missionary  problem,  have,  in  those 
years,  been  unloaded  upon  the  Board  for  development  and 
solution.  As  to  the  business  methods,  financial  and  other- 
wise, adopted  and  used  by  the  Board,  they  have  been 
proven  most  reliable,  and  are  worthy  of  the  confidence  of 
the  church  in  general.  As  to  the  responsibility  of  the 
Board  to  the  church,  as  her  missionary  agency,  it  is  ex- 
ceedingly great.  When  it  is  considered  how  many  are  the 
great  perplexities  that  the  Board  must  meet  and  adjust, 
as  best  it  can.  to  the  glory  of  God, — much  of  which  the 
general  church  can  know  very  little  about. — it  becomes 
quite  apparent  that  the  Board  needs  the  tenderest  sym- 
pathy and  the  most  fervent  prayer  of  the  church  con- 
stantly. 

402 


Biographical 

ALBERT   W.   VANIMAN 
Missionary  to  Sweden,  1900  to  1905 

To  Daniel  and  Maria  (Kimmel)  Vaniman  on  August  25, 
1859,  was  born  their  only  son,  Albert,  while  the  family 
was  living  on  a  farm  near  Dayton,  Ohio.  Soon  after 
the  mother  died.  His  father  married  again,  and  by  this 
second  marriage  there  were  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Albert's  parents  were  earnest  Christian  people,  and  Al- 
bert was  not  only  a  dutiful  son,  but  very  eager  to  secure 
a  good  education.  The  common  school  was  passed  with 
credit,  and  when  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois, 
was  opened,  in  1879,  Albert  was  one  of  the  first  to  enroll. 
He  sought  to  develop  a  strong  physique  on  the  farm  dur- 
ing his  youth  but  in  spite  of  all,  his  efforts  did  not  over- 
come some  inherited  tendencies  which  ultimately  brought 
on  his  early  death. 

While  at  Mt.  Morris  College  he  met  Sister  Alice  Moore, 
to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  June  18,  1882.  To- 
gether they  continued  school  work  at  McPherson  Col- 
lege, McPherson,  Kansas.  Then,  in  order  to  better  fit 
themselves  to  serve  their  fellows,  they  took  a  course  in 
medicine  in  the  Kansas  Medical  College,  Topeka,  Kan- 
sas, graduating  in  the  spring  of  1896.  He  served  for  five 
years  as  Business  Manager  of  McPherson  College. 

Albert's  father  was  a  leading  spirit  in  Southern  Illi- 
nois and  an  active  Sunday-school  worker.  When  but 
fourteen  years  old,  Albert  responded  to  the  call  of  the 
Lord  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the 
Pleasant  Hill  congregation,  John  Metzger  administering 
the  rite  of  baptism.  On  September  6,  1884,  he  was  called 
to  the  ministry,  while  living  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In 
due  time  he  was  advanced  to  the  second  degree,  and  in 
1899  ordained  to  the  bishopric.  Brethren  Neher  and  Ten- 
nison  laying  on  hands  in  the  ordination.  He  was  a  ready 
worker  where  opportunity  seemed  to  open  to  him.  He 
and  his  wife  answered  the  call  for  workers  in  India  in  1892, 
and  were  accepted  by  the  Conference  of  1894.    Then,  be- 

403 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

cause  only  three  were  to  be  sent,  they  resigned  in  favor 
o.f  Brother  Stover  and  wife.  Bro.  Vaniman  was  sent  by 
the  General  Mission  Board,  1885,  into  Texas  where  he 
spent  three  years  in  missions.  For  a  time  he  was  the 
only  minister  in  the  State,  and  here  he  continued  until 
he  was  permitted  to  assist  two  congregations  to  organize. 
When  the  General  Mission  Board  wanted  some  one  to 
study  the  possibilities  of  a  mission  to  the  colored  people 
in  the  South,  Brother  and  Sister  Vaniman  were  asked  to 
locate  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  report  on  the  prospects. 
In  1900  a  missionary  was  greatly  needed  in  Sweden. 
They  answered  the  call  and  did  acceptable  work  there  for 
five  years.  Failing  health  finally  compelling  them  to  re- 
turn to  America,  they  made  their  home  in  Southern  Cali- 
fornia. But  the  dread  disease,  consumption,  maintained 
its  grip  upon  Bro.  Vaniman  and  he  finally  succumbed  to 
its  ravages  March  14,  1908.  His  body  is  at  rest  in  the 
cemetery  at  Raisin,  California, 


MRS.  ALICE  MOORE  VANIMAN 
Missionary  to  Sweden,  1900  to  1905 

David  C.  Moore  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Rocking- 
ham County,  Virginia.  His  parents  were  Lutherans.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Will,  whose  parents  were 
Methodists.  After  their  marriage  on  October  7,  1841, 
both  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the 
Roanoke  congregation,  Virginia.  To  them  were  born 
six  daughters  and  four  sons,  of  whom  the  youngest, — 
Sarah  Alice, — gladdened  their  home  while  the  family 
lived  on  tlte  farm  in  Cass  County,  Illinois.  She  took  ad- 
vantage o.f  the  common  school  training  eagerly,  and  when 
a  young  woman  attended  Mt.  Morris  College. 

On  June  18,  1882,  while  living  near  Lanark,  Illinois, 
with  her  aged  parents  who,  at  that  time,  were  residing 
east  of  that  city,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Al- 
bert W.   Vaniman.     Together    the    couple    attended    Mc- 

404 


Biographical 

Pherson  College,  broadening  their  training.  Later  they 
entered  the  Kansas  Medical  College,  where  both  gradu- 
ated in  1896. 

In  early  life  the  spirit  of  devotion  was  manifest,  and 
at  the  tender  age  of  twelve,  Alice  was  received  into  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Rockingham  congrega- 
tion, of  Missouri,  S.  B.  Shirky  administering  baptism. 
She  sought  to  develop  a  deep,  spiritual  life,  and  ably  sec- 
onded her  husband's  effort  in  frontier  church  life,  first 
in  Texas  and  the  Southwest,  then  among  the  colored 
people  in  Georgia.  In  1900,  when  she  and  her  husband 
were  sent  to  Sweden,  she  took  a  lively  interest  in  visit- 
ing and  working  among  the  members  both  in  Denmark 
and  Sweden,  though  their  home  was  in  Malmo,  Sweden. 
Her  life  has  been  marked  with  a  constant  desire  to  help 
some  one,  and  she  has  always  been  glad  to  respond  to 
every   call  within   her  ability. 

On  account  of  her  husband's  failing  health,  they  re- 
turned from  Sweden  in  1905,  and  located  in  California, 
where  her  husband  passed  away  on  March  14,  1908.  She 
now  resides  in  Pasadena,  California,  where  she  is  seeking 
to  do  for  the  Lord  what  her  hands  find  to  do, 


DANIEL  VANIMAN 

Member  of  Mission  Board,  1884-1894 

Jacob  Vaniman  was  a  farmer  in  Montgomery  County, 
Ohio,  who  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Bowman. 
To  them  were  given  five  sons  to  gladden  their  home. 
Daniel,  born  on  February  4,  1835,  was  the  youngest  child. 
Hard  work  on  the  farm,  when  old  enough,  and  meager 
educational  advantages,  were  the  limit  of  his  opportuni- 
ties in  youth.  Yet  his  eagerness  to  know  enabled  him  to 
pick  up  what  he  could,  until  he  was  qualified  to  teach,  and 
by  this  vocation  pursued  his  studies  further,  with  greater 
satisfaction.  In  1864  he  located  with  his  family  near  Vir- 
den,  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  successfully  carried 

405 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

on  farming.  Later  he  identified  himself  with  McPherson 
College  interests,  and  located  in  McPherson,  Kansas,  in 
1889,  where  he  resided  till  the  close  of  his  life. 

On  September  2,  1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Maria,  daughter  of  John  and  Esther  Kimmel,  and  to  them 
was  born  one  son,  who  became  a  missionary  to  Sweden. 
On  June  2,  1860,  the  wife  died  of  hasty  consumption,  and 
on  February  28,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Hannah  Stutzman.  To  them  were  born 
five  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Brother  Vaniman's  parents  sought  proper  ideals  for 
their  children,  but  Daniel  did  not  confess  Christ  until  in 
the  spring  of  1859,  when  he  and  his  wife  united  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  He  was  a  man  of  much  practical 
good  sense  and  native  ability,  which  soon  made  him  a 
leader  amo.ng  his  fellows.  The  Macoupin  Creek  congre- 
gation, of  Southern  Illinois,  called  him  to  the  ministry  on 
April  8,  1865,  advanced  him  to  the  second  degree  on  May 
29,  1866,  and  in  the  same  congregation,  on  September  15, 
1876,  he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  by  the  laying  on 
of  hands  by  David  Frantz  and  John  Metzger.  He  was 
always  active  in  the  ministry  and  was  gone  on  many  trips 
in  behalf  of  the  church.  He  was  a  leader  in  the  Sunday- 
school  movement,  and  a  strong  advocate  in  its  behalf 
when  the  Brotherhood  had  not  endorsed  them.  Six  times 
he  represented  his  District  on  the  Standing  Committee, 
«ind  thrice  he  was  Moderator  of  Annual  Meeting.  He  es- 
tablished the  precedent  at  Conference, — not  observed  be- 
fore this, — that  the  Moderator  was  to  moderate  and  not 
to  make  speeches. 

He  was  a  warm  friend  of  education.  He  sent  his  chil- 
dren to  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois.  He  was 
a  regular  contributor  to  the  church  publications  and  his 
"Chips  from  the  Workhouse"  came  from  many  a  "log" 
of  wide  experience,  close  observation  and  wise  conclusions. 

Conference  placed  him  on  many  committees,  where  he 
served  the  Brotherhood  well.  Perhaps  the  most  impor- 
tant one  is  the  framing  of  the  missionary  plan,  adopted 
in  1884,  which  was  practically  all  his  production.    He  also 

406 


Biographical 

helped  to  form  the  plan  for  the  Book  and  Tract  Work,  in 
1885.  In  1884  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  General 
Mission  Board,  In  1885  he  was  elected  its  President, 
which  position  he  held  until  1894.  During  his  service  on 
the  Board,  business  was  done  with  dispatch,  and  showed 
wisdom.  He  greatly  interested  himself  ia  the  develop- 
ment of  the  India  missionary  movement  and  really  might 
be  called  the  father  of  our  India  Missions.  When,  in 
1897,  the  time  was  ripe  that  the  Board  should  own  and 
control  the  publishing  interests,  he  raised  the  necessary 
$50,000  for  its  purchase  among  liberal  brethren  in  the 
Brotherhood.  He  served  as  Traveling  Secretary  for  the 
Board  many  years,  raised  a  large  endowment,  preached 
multiplied  sermons  on  missions,  and  developed  much  sen- 
timent in  favor  of  world-wide  missionary  endeavor.  He 
wrote  several  tracts, — the  one  most  largely  circulated 
being  "  The  House  We  Live  In." 

Previous  to  his  departure  he  had  been  in  good  health 
all  summer,  worked  about  his  home  and  enjoyed  life. 
On  November  15,  1903,  he  attended  young  people's  meet- 
ing in  the  evening  at  the  college.  Upon  his  return  home 
he  took  sick,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus,  to  awaken  in  that  blessed  morning.  His  body  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  McPherson  cemetery. 


ERNEST  D.  VANIMAN 

Missionary   to   China,    1913 

On  a  farm  near  Olathe,  Johnson  County,  Kansas,  lived 
J.  P.  and  Diana  (Brubaker)  Vaniman,  in  1883,  when  on 
November  24,  their  son  Ernest,  the  third  child  of  four 
sons  and  two  daughters,  was  born.  When  two  years  old, 
the  family  moved  to  Rice  County,  Kansas,  and  located  on 
a  farm  near  Lyons.  At  four,  Ernest  began  going  to 
school,  and  has  been  in  the  school-room  as  scholar  or 
teacher  ever  since.    At  fifteen  he  entered  McPherson  Col- 

407 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

lege,  McPherson,  Kansas,  and  in  the  spring  of  1904  com- 
pleted the  Normal  Course,  and  had  taken  one  year  com- 
mercial work.  During  the  next  four  years  he  spent  two 
in  teaching  country  schools,  one  as  teacher  in  the  grades 
at  McPherson,  and  one  as  principal  of  the  Inman  schools. 
Then  he  reentered  McPherson  College,  and  in  1911  com- 
pleted the  Bachelor  of  Arts  Course.  Having  moved  to 
Lordsburg,  California,  he  spent  one  year  teaching  Sci- 
ence and  the  Bible  in  Lordsburg,  College,  Here,  during 
the  last  year,  he  pursued  advanced  work  on  the  Bible, 
until  a  position  in  the  Manual  Training  Department  of 
the  Pasadena  city  schools  was  tendered  him. 

On  May  19,  1909,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susie 
Cordelia,  daughter  of  Noah  G.  Neher.  To  them  was 
born  a  son,  who  soon  left  them  for  glory. 

It  was  through  the  tender  leading  of  both  a  father  and 
mother  that  Ernest,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  when  J.  J. 
Yoder  was  holding  a  series  of  meetings  in  the  Kansas  Cen- 
ter congregation  of  Kansas,  in  the  month  of  November, 
1895,  confessed  Christ  and,  with  a  playmate  in  school, 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Some  of  his 
greatest  spiritual  growth  he  attributes  to  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  work  in  McPherson  College  while 
he  was  in  school  there.  The  requirement  of  daily  Bible 
study,  and  the  "  Morning  Watch "  have  become  a  habit 
with  him,  have  deepened  his  spiritual  life,  and  given  him 
many  joys.  As  a  leader  of  song  service,  in  a  number  of 
revivals,  he  has  been  greatly  helped.  In  April,  1909,  he 
was  called  to  the  ministry  in  the  McPherson  congregation, 
and  in  1911  advanced  to  the  second  degree. 

He  and  his  wife  were  not  at  the  Conference  of  1913, 
at  Winona,  when  their  names  were  submitted  and  were 
approved.  They  go  to  the  China  field  this  coming  fall, 
full  of  hope  that  the  Lord  will  use  them  graciously  for 
his  kingdom. 


408 


Biographical 

MRS.  ERNEST  D.  VANIMAN,  NEE  SUSIE  COR- 
DELIA NEHER 

Missionary   to    China,   1913 

To  Noah  G.  Neher,  farmer  by  occupation,  and  a  faith- 
ful deacon  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  for  many  years, 
and  his  wife,  Mary  Florence  (Blickenstafif)  Neher,  were 
given  ten  daughters  and  two  sons,  Susie  Cordelia,  the  sev- 
enth child,  being  born  on  December  11,  1884.  They  were 
living  on  a  farm  in  Gage  County,  Nebraska,  at  the  time, 
and  here  Susie  lived  with  her  parents,  went  to  the  coun- 
try school  and  developed  towards  womanhood.  When  fif- 
teen years  old,  the  family  moved  to  Rocky  Ford,  Colo- 
rado, where  she  attended  public  school  for  two  years. 
In  1903  she  entered  McPherson  College,  McPherson,  Kan- 
sas and  graduated  from  the  Normal  Course  with  the 
class  of  1907.     She  taught  school  one  year. 

May  19,  1909,  was  a  beautiful  day,  when  she  gave  her 
hand  to  Ernest  D.  Vaniman  in  marriage.  God  blessed 
their  home  with  a  son,  but  was  pleased  to  call  him  home 
when  three  days  old. 

At  twelve  Susie  gave  her  heart  to  the  Lord,  while  Ira 
C.  Snavely  was  holding  a  series  of  meetings  in  the  South 
Beatrice  congregation,  Nebraska,  in  November,  1896,  and 
was  baptized  by  Stephen  Yoder.  At  McPherson,  in  the 
mission  study  classes  and  deeply  spiritual  meetings  of 
the  institution,  the  desire  was  quickened  to  be  a  mission- 
ary, and  she  is  glad  to  join  her  husband  in  the  efforts 
they  have  been  asked  to  make  for  Christ  and  his  church 
in  China. 


FREDERICK  J.  WAMPLER,  M.  D. 
Missionary  to  China,  1913 

Frederick  Wampler  was  an  active  bishop,  living  on  a 
farm  in  the  Greenmount  congregation,  northwest  of  Har- 
risonburg, Rockingham  County,  Virginia.     In  the  begin- 

409 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ning  of  life  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Driver, 
Both  served  the  Lord  fervently  from  their  youth.  To 
them  were  born  eleven  children,  Frederick,  born  on  Jan- 
uary 7,  1883,  being  the  tenth  child.  Fred  grew  up  on  the 
farm,  and  attended  country  school.  In  his  early  teens 
he  worked  in  his  brother's  store  in  Timberville,  Virginia, 
and  later  spent  one  year  in  a  drug  store  in  Harrisonburg. 
In  the  fall  of  1902,  when  nineteen  years  old,  he  entered 
Bridgewater  College  and  graduated  in  the  college  de- 
partment in  1908.  During  these  years  he  spent  his  va- 
cations canvassing,  thus  enabling  himself  to  go  on  with 
his  training.  Incidentally  he  learned  much  about  people. 
He  spent  one  year  canvassing,  and  training  men  for  so- 
licitation, and  then  entered  the  Medical  College  of  Vir- 
ginia, at  Richmond.  After  one  year  he  transferred  to 
the  Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  where  he  com- 
pleted his  medical  preparation  June  11,  1913.  Most  of 
the  last  year,  in  Chicago,  he  lived  in  the  Norwegian  Ta- 
bitha  Hospital,  acting  first  as  laboratory  man,  and  later 
as  house  physician  and  surgeon.  Based  on  graduate 
work,  done  at  the  University  of  Chicago,  Bridgewater 
College  conferred  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  upon 
him  in  June,  1912. 

On  September  3,  1911,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Re- 
becca C.   Skeggs,   of  Roanoke,  Virginia. 

The  influence  of  his  home  could  not  have  produced 
other  than  devotion  to  the  Lord.  Thus  it  was  that,  dur- 
ing the  series  of  meetings  held  in  the  Greenmount  con- 
gregation by  Brother  John  P.  Zigler,  Fred  confessed 
Christ  as  his  Savior  when  but  fourteen  years  old,  and 
was  baptized  on  February  22,  1897,  by  Brother  Jacob  A. 
Garber.  He  was  active  in  Sunday-school,  ready  to  teach 
or  superintend,  as  the  church  might  desire.  At  Bridge- 
water  he  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Volunteer  Band, 
and  a  leading  spirit  of  the  organization  while  there.  Dur- 
ing his  medical  course  he  has  had  little  opportunity  for 
active  service;  but  goes  to  China  enthused  with  a  desire 
to  heal  the  body  of  the  needy  Chinese  and  also  to  point 
them  to  the  Great  Healer  of  the  soul. 

410 


Biographical 


MRS.  FREDERICK  J.  WAMPLER,  NEE  REBECCA  C. 

SKEGGS 

Missionary  to  China,  1913 

Frank  E.  Skeggs,  a  carpenter,  was  living  at  Greencastle, 
Pennsylvania,  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of  his  daughter, 
Rebecca,  on  October  13,  1882.  Her  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Annie  M.  Foutz.  Rebecca  is  the  eldest  of  five  daugh- 
ters. Living  in  the  city,  enabled  her  to  secure  a  good 
public  school  education.  In  1895  she  entered  the  Na- 
tional Business  College  of  Roanoke,  Virginia,  in  which 
city  the  family  was  living,  and  graduated  from  the  Com- 
mercial Department  in  1899.  The  institution  honored  her 
by  employing  her  to  teach  for  three  years.  Then  she  took 
practical  work  in  good  business  houses  in  the  city.  Fi- 
nally, in  1906,  she  entered  Bridgewater  College  and  by 
piecemeal,  because  of  earning  her  way,  finished  the  Aca- 
demic Course  in  1910.  After  another  year  of  teaching, 
in  the  Business  College  of  Roanoke,  she  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Frederick  J.  Wampler  September  3,  1911. 
After  her  marriage  she  spent  six  months  in  the  Battle 
Creek  Sanitarium,  of  Michigan,  getting  training  as  a 
nurse,  the  better  to  fit  herself  to  supplement  her  hus- 
band's work  on  the  mission  field. 

Rebecca's  father,  still  living,  is  a  deacon  in  the  Roanoke 
City  congregation  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Her 
parents  being  earnest  Sunday-school  workers,  sought 
to  lead  their  children  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord.  When  thir- 
teen years  old,  Rebecca  confessed  Christ  as  her  Savior, 
and  was  baptized  by  P.  S.  Miller  on  February  2,  1896.  She 
was  assigned  a  class  in  the  Sunday-school.  While  at 
Bridgewater  she  took  some  Bible  work,  was  a  teacher  in 
the  Sunday-school  there,  and  a  member  of  the  Volunteer 
Mission  Band. 

Thus  equipped  she  hopes  to  render  faithful  service  to 
her  Master,  by  supplementing  her  husband's  work  on  the 
China  field. 


411 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

S.  OLIVE  WIDDOWSON 

Missionary  to  India,  1912 

E.  B.  Widdowson,  a  farmer  living  near  Clymer,  Indi- 
ana County,  Pennsylvania,  united  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  when  thirty  years  old.  On  October  2,  1862,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Susan  Ober,  who  was  also  a 
member  of  the  same  church.  To  them  were  given  six 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  S.  Olive,  the  eighth 
child,  was  born  on  September  22,  1881.  Olive  was  dili- 
gent in  public  school  and  was  glad  to  continue  her  educa- 
tion at  Juniata  College,  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  where 
she  entered  in  the  spring  of  1899,  and  graduated  in  the 
Normal  English  Course  with  the  class  of  1902.  During 
this  time  she  taught  one  year.  After  graduation  she  con- 
tinued her  studies  one  year,  and  then  taught  four  years 
in  Eastern  Pennsylvania.  While  teaching,  she  worked 
on  Courses  of  Psychology,  Pedagogy  and  English  in  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1909,  in  order  better  to 
prepare  herself  for  her  life  work,  she  entered  Dr.  White's 
Bible  Teacher  Training  School,  of  New  York,  and  grad- 
uated in  the  spring  of  1912. 

While  at  Juniata,  in  1889,  she  accepted  Christ  as  her 
Savior  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  by 
baptism,  administered  by  W.  J.  Swig^rt.  This  ste;p 
changed  her  purposes  in  life,  for  now  she  sought  to  serve 
the  Lord  whom  she  loved.  He  led  her  to  Bible  prepara- 
tion, when  she  had  planned  being  a  public  school  teacher. 
He  led  her  to  India  when  she  had  thought  to  live  in  the 
homeland.  She  is  rejoiced  in  preparing  herself  in  her  new 
field  for  service  to  the  sinful  and  degraded  in  that  land. 


412 


Biographical 

J.  HENRY  B.  WILLIAMS 
Assistant  Secretary  of  General  Mission  Board,  1910 — 

Nathaniel  K.  Williams  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Carter 
County,  Tennessee,  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  Louisa 
J.  Bashor,  born  and  raised  in  Washington  County,  the 
same  State.  After  their  marriage  in  Missouri  they  moved 
to  Republic  County,  Kansas,  in  1873,  and  settled  on  a  home- 
stead near  Scandia.  A  few  years  later  they  moved  to  a 
farm  near  Belleville.  At  this  place,  on  April  14,  1883, 
their  second  son,  whom  they  named  John  Henry  Bashor, 
was  born.  The  parents  were  prosperous  people,  lived 
godly  lives  as  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
and  encouraged  their  two  sons  to  develop  into  godly 
men.  Henry  took  advantage  of  all  the  school  privileges 
he  could  command, — graduating  from  the  common  schools 
in  1896;  the  Belleville  high  school  in  1899;  the  Academic 
Department  of  McPherson  College  in  1901;  and  from  the 
College  proper  in   1906. 

Soon  after  leaving  college,  on  May  31,  1906,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Sister  Alma  Ball,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam S.  and  Olive  (Wells)  Ball.  At  once  the  young  peo- 
ple settled  on  a  farm  near  the  old  homestead.  To  them 
have  been  bo.rn  two  daughters  and  one  son;  the  first 
■  daughter  died  in  infancy.  In  January,  1908,  they  moved  to 
Elgin,   Illinois,  where  they  now  reside. 

From  infancy  Henry  has  always  attended  Sunday-school 
and,  since  he  was  old  enough,  has  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  this  phase  of  church  work.  On  July  29,  1899,  he 
confessed  Christ,  and  by  baptism,  administered  by  A.  C. 
Daggett,  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  The 
Belleville  congregation  called  him  to  the  ministry  Septem- 
ber 23,  1903,  and  while  at  school  at  McPherson,  he  was 
advanced  to  the  second  degree.  During  1905  and  1906 
he  was  President  of  the  College  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  at  McPherson.  Kansas.  In  the  Elgin  congre- 
gation, in  1911,  he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  through 
the  laying  on  of  hands  by  D.   L.  Miller  and   I.   Bennett 

413 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Trout.  On  April  11,  1913,  he  was  given  the  oversight  of 
the  Elgin  congregation,  which  position  he  now  occupies. 
His  move  to  Elgin  was  to  assist  in  the  Mission  Rooms 
of  the  General  Mission  Board.  He  came  on  one  year's 
trial.  His  services  were  satisfactory,  and  on  April  14, 
1909,  the  General  Mission  Board  appointed  him  a  member 
of  the  Gish  Committee.  On  June  9,  1910,  he  was  elected 
Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Board.  On  April  11,  1912,  he 
was  given  the  editorship  of  the  "  Missionary  Visitor." 
At  the  Conference  of  1913  he  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Educational  Board. 


ALONZO   F.  WINE 
Missionary  to  Denmark,,  1913 

George  Wine,  born  November  20,  1807,  and  Catherine 
Good,  his  wife,  born  July  22,  1828,  both  of  German  de- 
scent, lived  in  Augusta  County,  Virginia,  and  to  them 
were  born  seven  sons  and  four  daughters.  Alonzo  Frank- 
lin, their  tenth  child,  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Mt.  Sidney, 
Virginia,  September  23,  1871.  Because  of  much  work  on 
the  farm,  and  little  time  in  school,  the  chances  of  secur- 
ing an  education  were  not  very  assuring.  Yet,  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  Alonzo  taught  one  term  of  public  school,  and 
then,  in  1890,  entered  Bridgewater  College,  Bridgewater, 
Virginia,  and  applied  himself  closely  for  two  years.  This 
he  followed  with  one  year  in  Augusta  Male  Academy, 
at  Ft.  Defiance,  Virginia,  and  one  year  at  Mt.  Morris 
College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois.  He  dropped  out  of  school 
at  this  point  and  engaged  in  farming,  and  did  not 
return  to  school  work  until,  locating  in  Chicago, 
he  took  some  night  work  at  Bethany  Bible  School. 
During  1912,  and  1913  he  spent  all  his  time  on  a  Bible 
Course  at  the  same  place.  He  engaged  in  farming  in 
Ohioi,  Virginia,  Indiana  and  Michigan.  He  worked  in 
the  Plain  Clothing  Department  of  Albaugh  Bros.,  Dover, 
&  Co.,  of  Chicago^  for  seven  years,  and  in  January,  1912, 

414 


Biographical 

accepted'  a  position  with  the  Western  Worsted  Mills  Co., 
of  Chicago,  as  manager  of  their  store  in  Ft.  Wayne,  In- 
diana. 

On  March  24,  1892,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Attic 
Cline,  daughter  of  Abraham  Cline,  of  Timberville,  Vir- 
ginia. To  them  have  been  born  two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, a  son  and  a  daughter  uniting  with  the  church  during 
last  winter. 

When  fourteen  years  old,  in  October,  1885,  Alonzo  con- 
fessed Christ,  and  united  with  the  Pleasant  Valley,  Vir- 
ginia, congregation  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  bap- 
tism being  administered  by  A.  D.  Garber  in  Middle  Branch 
of  the  Shenandoah  River.  At  seventeen  he  began  to  serve 
as  superintendent  of  Sunday-school,  and  has  been  either 
officer  or  teacher  in  a  Sunday-school  for  over  fifteen 
years.  The  Stone  Lick  congregation,  of  Ohio,  called  him 
to  the  deacon's  office  October  24,  1903.  The  First  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  in  Chicago,  called  him  to  the  ministry 
on  October  2,  1906,  but  he  did  not  accept  the  work  until 
the  close  of  a  love  feast  on  November  3,  1906.  The  same 
congregation  advanced  him  to  the  second  degree  Decem- 
ber 27,  1908.  He  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  congre- 
gation for  two  years. 

He  felt  the  call  to  Denmark,  and  to  no  other  field,  and 
the  Board  is  glad  that  he  sailed  June  14,  1913,  to  help  the 
churches  in  that  first  foreign  mission  field  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren. 


MRS.   ALONZO   F.   WINE,   NEE  ATTIE   CLINE 

Missionary  to  Denmark,  1913 

John  W.  Cline,  the  eldest  of  twelve  children,  a  distant 
relative  of  John  Kline,  of  martyr  fame,  was  a  Rocking- 
ham County  son.  Sallie  V.  Zimmerman,  of  German  de- 
scent, was  a  farmer's  daughter  of  Augusta  County,  Vir- 
ginia. After  their  marriage,  December  24,  1869,  they 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.    To  gladden  their 

415 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

home  came  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  Attic,  the  fourth 
child,  was  born  on  April  17,  1876.  Attie  was  apt  to  learn, 
but  duties  in  the  home  prevented  her  from  attending 
school  as  much  as  she  would  like  to  have  done. 

On  March  24,  1898,  she  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Alonzo  F.  Wine,  and  to  their  home  have  been  given  two 
sons  and  one  daughter. 

The  spiritual  atmosphere  of  her  home  made  a  deep 
impression  on  her  young  life,  and  at  fourteen  years  of 
age  Attie  confessed  Christ  and  united  with  the  Pleasant 
Valley  congregation  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  on 
August  14,  1890,  baptism  being  administered  by  Daniel 
Miller.  She  is  a  dear  lover  of  home,  and  she  alone  knows 
the  sacrifice  of  heart  she  made,  to  go  to  Denmark.  But 
when  she  saw  the  path  of  duty,  she  walked  therein  with 
sweet  determination,  and  a  happy  heart.  She  sailed  with 
her  husband  on  June  14,  1913,  for  their  chosen  field  of 
labor. 


OTHO  WINGER 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1912 — 

Near  Marion,  in  Grant  County,  Indiana,  in  the  seven- 
ties, lived  John  Martin  Winger,  a  man  in  whose  veins 
ran  both  German  and  Scotch-Irish  blood.  His  wife  was 
Mary  Ann  Smith,  a  woman  of  English  descent.  Both 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  some  time  near 
1883  and  sought  to  impart  to  their  children  the  high  ideals 
they  were  holding  for  themselves.  To  them  were  given 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  Otho,  born  on  October  23, 
1877,  being  the  oldest  child  of  the  family.  The  hardihood 
of  farm  life  gave  Otho  the  opportunity  for  laying  a  good 
foundation  for  a  strong  body.  His  mind  was  vigorous,  as 
seen  in  the  fact  that,  after  attending  public  school  till  sev- 
enteen, he  was  ready  to  teach  country  school.  This  he  did, 
too,  for  three  years,  his  student  body  being  made  up  of 
both  whites  and  Indians,  in  the  Indian  village  school  in 

416 


Plate     Ifi 


Opposite     41B 


Ida    Buckingham  A.  F.  Wine  Mrs.   A.   F.   T^  ine 

A    Raymond  Cottrell,  M.  D.         Mrs.  A.  Raymond  Cottrell,  M.   D. 
'S    Ira  Arnold  Mrs.    S.    Ira   Arnold      Galen  B.   Royer 


Biographical 

Grant  County,  Indiana.  In  1898,  entering  Manchester  Col- 
lege, he  completed  the  Academic  and  a  part  of  the  College 
Course  in  1902.  At  once  he  entered  Indiana  University 
and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1905.  Two  years 
later  he  took  from  the  same  institution  his  A.  M.  degree. 
He  occupied  the  position  of  Superintendent  of  Schools 
at  Sweetser  and  later  at  Hope,  Indiana,  during  the  years 
1903  to  1907. 

In  1907  he  accepted  the  position  of  teacher  of  History 
and  Philosophy  in  Manchester  College  and  since  then  has 
been  identified  with  the  school  very  closely.  He  ser\'ed 
as  vice-president  during  the  years  1910  and  '11,  and  when 
the  college  was  looking  for  a  President,  in  1911,  he  was 
chosen.  The  growth  of  Manchester  College  is  the  best 
evidence  of  his  ability  for  the  place.  About  the  same 
time  he  was  chosen  by  Conference  to  serve  as  a  member 
of  the  General  Educational  Board,  a  field  of  investiga- 
tion and  deliberation  in  which  he  takes  much  interest. 

Besides  occasional  contributions  to  the  church  period- 
icals, the  "Life  of  Elder  R.  H.  Miller,"  the  product  of 
his  pen,  was  published  in  1909.  It  is  a  volume,  well  pre- 
pared and  full  of  interest  to  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

On  July  24,  1902,  he  was  married  to  Sister  Ida  Miller, 
and  to  them  two  sons,  Robert  and  Paul,  have  been  born. 

At  the  unusuallj'  tender  age  of  ten.  Otho  confessed 
Christ,  and  united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the 
Somerset  congregation  of  Middle  Indiana,  J.  F.  Spitzer 
performing  the  rite  of  baptism.  He  was  active  for  the 
Master  in  whatever  his  j'outhful  hands  could  find  to  do. 
Before  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  or  on  September  26, 
1896,  he  was  called  to  the  deacon's  oflSce.  In  less  than 
a  year  later,  April  9,  1897,  he  was  chosen  to  the  ministry 
and  preached  his  first  sermon  on  April  17,  following, 
using  for  his  text  Exodus  3:  13.  In  two  years  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  second  degree  and  on  November  12.  1910, 
he  with  other  brethren,  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric, 
Brother  Daniel  Snell  laying  on  hands.     In   1910  he  was 

417 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

chosen  to  preside  over  the  North  Manchester  congrega- 
tion, which  position  he  still  occupies. 

During  the  years  the  Reading  Circle  was  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  General  Mission  Board,  he  was  one  of  the 
Committee  appointed  to  give  it  direction,  and  enlarge  its 
usefulness.  In  1912  he  succeeded  L.  W.  Teeter  on  the 
General  Mission  Board,  giving  him  a  still  broader  field 
through  which  to  press  his  ideals. 


O.   H.   YEREMAN,   M.   D. 

Missionary  to  India,  1903  to  1906 

While  G.  J.  Fercken  was  conducting  a  mission  in  Smjrr- 
na,  Asia  Minor,  a  young  man  became  interested  and  finally 
united  with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  His  mother  and 
several  sisters  were  residents  of  the  city  and  are  yet.  He 
showed  himself  active  and  capable,  and  the  congregation 
called  him  to  the  ministry.  So  earnest  were  his  efforts, 
that  his  support  was  increased  to  four  Turkish  pounds 
per  month,  in  May,  1897.  At  the  same  meeting  the  Board 
decided  that  he  "  be  brought  to  America  at  the  expense 
of  the  World-wide  Fund,  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
church,  and  be  fully  indoctrinated,  and  return  at  its  ex- 
pense." Some  time  during  the  fall  of  1897  Brother  Yere- 
man  arrived  in  America.  At  that  time  he  was  about 
eighteen  years  old.  After  spending  a  short  time  in  Mt 
Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  he  entered  a  medical 
college  in  Chicago.  First  he  took  a  course  on  the  treat- 
ment of  eyes  and  in  part  worked  his  way  through  school 
as  an  optician.  In  due  time  he  graduated  from  medical 
college  and  was  ready  for  the  field.  During  his  medical 
course  he  lectured  among  the  churches  during  his  vaca- 
tions, taking  up  collections  and  turning  them  over  to 
the  General  Mission  Board.  He  could  not  return  to  his 
native  country  without  being  cast  into  prison,  and  at  the 
fall  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  1903,  a  physician  being 
greatly  needed  in  India,  he  was  invited  to  go.    The  Board 

418 


Biographical 

decided  that  si«ce  he  was  in  its  employ,  the  confirmation 
of  Conference  was  not  needed.  With  only  about  two 
weeks'  notice,  Brother  Yereman  was  on  his  way  to  In- 
dia, with  the  party  that  sailed  that  fall.  He  was  not 
long  on  the  field  until  he  began  to  practice.  At  both 
Bulsar  and  at  Dahanu  he  had  more  patients  than  he 
could  care  for  properly.  In  1906  he  returned  from  the 
field,  finally  locating  in  Kansas  City,  where,  as  optician, 
he  has  become  one  of  the  leading  specialists  of  the  city. 
During  the  summer  of  1912  he  went  to  Smj'rna  with  his 
mother  and  sisters,  who  were  in  this  country  a  short 
while,  and  at  present  writing  is  still  somewhere  in  Eu- 
rope. 


JOSEPH  J.  YODER 
Member  General  Mission  Board,  1908 — 

Of  German  extraction  and  under  the  influence  of  the 
Amish  Mennonite  faith  Jacob  D.  Yoder  and  Sarah  (Yo- 
der)  Yoder  grew  up  and  were  married  in  Somerset  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  Soon  after  they  united  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Into  their  home,  to  gladden  the  hearts 
of  his  pious  parents,  while  still  living  in  Somerset  County, 
J.  J.,  their  first  born  of  a  family  of  two  girls  and  four 
boys,  came  on  November  24,  1868.  All  the  children  are 
living,  two  of  the  sons  are  ministers,  one  a  deacon,  and 
one  daughter  married  a  minister.  When  nearly  eleven 
years  old,  J.  J.'s  father  moved  to  McPherson,  Kansas,  and 
entered  upon  farm  life  on  a  broad  scale.  He  was  blessed 
in  his  endeavors,  was  able  to  give  each  one  of  his  children 
a  good  farm,  and  then  remembered  the  Lord  with  as 
good  a  one  as  he  gave  to  each  of  his  children. 

J.  J.  was  trained  on  the  farm,  but,  following  the  bent  of 
his  mind,  made  good  use  of  the  advantages  of  the  public 
schools  of  Kansas,  and  thus  prepared  himself  for  teaching, 
in  which  occupation  he  engaged  for  eight  years  success- 
fully.     During    this    time    he    pushed    his    way,    through 

419 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

further  preparation  at  McPherson  College,  and  graduated 
from  the  Academic  Department  in  1894.  Soon  after  he 
settled  on  a  farm,  a  few  miles  southwest  of  McPherson, 
and  prospered  as  a  farmer.  But  a  yearning  for  more  ed- 
ucation and  a  larger  usefulness  brought  him  back  to  Mc- 
Pherson in  1908  and,  along  with  other  duties,  he  re- 
turned to  the  college  as  a  student,  and  pressed  onward 
till  May  23,  1913,  when  he  received  the  degree  of  A.  B. 

On  May  30,  1895,  he  was  married  to  Sister  Sadie  Strohm, 
of  Harlan,  Iowa.  To  them  have  been  born  four  sons,  one 
of  v/hom  died  in  infancy. 

J.  J.  attended  the  Sunday-school  the  first  day  it  was 
organized  in  the  Pike  house,  in  the  Brothers  Valley  con- 
gregation, Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania.  His  love  for 
Sunday-school  and  the  Sunday-school  movement  has  ever 
grown.  As  a  mark  of  his  ability  in  this  line  he  was  made 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Kansas  Sunday- 
school  Association  in  1912,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
While  at  McPherson  in  school,  in  1889,  he  united  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  S.  G.  Lehmer  baptizing  him. 
His  ability  and  inclination  to  things  religious  prompted 
the  Monitor  congregation  to  call  him  to  the  ministry  on 
June  11,  1892,  and  about  a  month  after,  Sunday,  July  24, 
he  preached  his  first  sermon  from  John  3:  16.  On  April 
29,  1893,  he  was  advanced  to  the  second  degree,  and  on 
January  5,  1901,  ordained  bishop.  At  this  last  service 
Bishops  A.  M,  Dickey  and  S.  J.  Miller  officiated.  He  had 
the  oversight  of  the  Monitor  congregation  until  1912. 

In  recent  years  duties  and  responsibilities  have  fallen 
rapidly  upon  J.  J.  In  1908,  upon  moving  to  McPherson, 
he  assisted  in  the  college,  in  addition  to  his  studies.  He 
was  engaged  as  pastor  of  McPherson  congregation  in 
1909,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  for  three  school 
years.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  college  as  well  as  the  church,  and  is  now  Dean 
of  the  Bible  Department,  and  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees.  In  1898  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
District  Mission  Board  of  Southwestern  Kansas  and  South- 
ern' Colorado,  and  has  been  President  of  the  Board  since 

420 


Biographical 

1900.  Thrice  lias  he  been  Moderator  and  thrice  Reading 
Clerk  of  his  District  Meeting,  and  three  times  has  he  rep- 
resented his  District  on  the  Standing  Committee  at  Gen- 
eral Conference.  In  1908  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
General  Mission  Board,  where  he  has  been  rendering  faith- 
ful service  ever  since.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
who  framed  the  present  Missionary  Educational  campaign, 
now  in  use  among  the  churches. 


EMANUEL  S.  YOUNG 

Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1885-1888 

To  Simon  and  Catherine  Sprankle  Young,  prosperous 
farmers  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  was  born  Emanuel  S., 
the  third  child  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. E.  S.,  as  he  is  more  familiarly  known,  sought  an 
education.  He  attended  school  at  Bridgeport,  north  of 
Massillon,  Mt.  Zion  Academy  at  Greensburg,  and  Smith- 
ville,  Mt.  Union  and  Ashland  Colleges,  all  in  Ohio.  When 
twenty-one  years  old,  he  taught  his  first  term  of  school 
at  Boetler's  schoolhouse;  then  three  winters  at  Jackson 
Center,  north  of  Massillon.  In  1880  he  became  a  student 
of  Mt.  Morris  College,  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  and  com- 
pleted the  Preparatory  and  College  Courses.  He  soon 
entered  Transylvania  University,  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
and  completed  a  Bible  Course.  Thus  prepared  he  returned 
to  Mt.  Morris  and  joined  J.  G.  Royer  in  managing  the 
college  under  a  lease.  He  remained  in  Mt.  Morris  ten 
years,  during  which  time  he  organized  the  Bible  Depart- 
ment and  was  its  instructor.  He  spent  his  summer  vaca- 
tions in  further  preparation,  spending  time  on  the  study 
of  Hebrew  at  Chautauqua,  New  York,  Yale  and  Chicago 
Universities,  until  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Divinity.  In  1895  he  moved  to  North  Manchester,  Indi- 
ana, where,  in  association  with  his  brother  Simon,  they 
purchased  the  college  property,  and  started  another  school 
for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.     During  the  ensuing  four 

421 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

years  they  erected  two  more  buildings.  Wliile  at  North 
Manchester,  E.  S.  was  President  of  the  school.  After  sev- 
eral moves,  he  located  at  Canton,  Ohio,  where  he  erected 
the  Bible  Institute  building,  and  conducted  a  Bible  School 
for  three  years. 

On  August  30,  1895,  he  was  married  to  Sister  Susie  E. 
Royer,  daughter  of  J.  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Reiflf)  Royer,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  six  sons  and  six  daughters.  They 
have  the  distinction  of  having  "  triplets," — two  boys  and 
a  girl, — in  their  family, 

E.  S.  confessed  Christ  in  1880,  and  united  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Mt.  Morris  congregation. 
Northern  Illinois,  S.  Z.  Sharp  administering  baptism.  He 
was  an  active  church  worker.  In  1886,  while  at  Mt.  Mor- 
ris, Illinois,  he  was  called  to  the  ministry,  and  preached 
his  first  sermon  in  Mt.  Morris,  using  for  his  text  Mat- 
thew 16:  13-20.  In  1888  he  was  advanced  to  the  second 
degree,  and  in  1904,  ordained  to  the  bishopric  through  the 
laying  on  of  hands  by  Tobias  Hoover  and  Charles  Kins- 
ley. He  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry,  es- 
pecially in  evangelistic  and  Bible  Institute  work.  He  con- 
ducted the  first  Bible  Institute,  held  in  the  Brethren 
church,  in  the  congregation  near  Virden,  Illinois. 

He  is  the  author  and  publisher  of  the  following  five 
books,  which  he  uses  in  his  Correspondence  Bible  Study 
Courses:  "Life  of  Christ,"  "Bible  Outlines,"  "Bible  Ge- 
ography," "Old  Testament  History,"  and  "New  Testa- 
ment History."  He  also  edited  and  published  a  periodical, 
called  "  The  Bible  Student,"  for  ten  years. 

While  serving  but  one  term  on  the  General  Mission 
Board,  he  was  assigned  special  work,  showing  that  the 
Board  had  confidence  in  his  ability.  In  later  years  he 
is  giving  his  entire  time  to  Bible  instruction  by  corre- 
spondence, with  his  headquarters  at  Canton,  Ohio. 


422 


Biographical 

KATHRYN  ZIEGLER 
Missionary   to    India,    1908 

To  Daniel  and  Mary  Conner  Ziegler,  while  living  on 
their  farm,  near  Mt.  Etna,  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  their  daughter  Kathryn,  the  thirteenth  child  in  a 
family  of  eight  sons  and  six  daughters.  The  father  and 
his  ancestors,  for  several  generations,  were  members  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Kathryn  rejoiced  in  the 
pleasant  surroundings  of  the  home,  and  attended  the  coun- 
try school  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  At  this  time  her 
father  having  aged,  and  desiring  to  retire  from  active 
life,  Kathryn  went  to  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylva- 
nia, to  live  with  her  brother  Jesse.  Two  valuable  years  in 
school  she  spent  here.  The  next  nine  years  were  spent 
partly  at  the  home  of  her  brother  Levi,  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  partly  with  her  brother  Daniel,  near  Denton,  Mary- 
land. In  1898  she  located  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  as 
a  domestic,  where  she  remained  seven  years.  The  Eastern 
District  of  Pennsylvania  desiring  to  send  a  missionary 
to  the  field,  selected  Kathryn,  and  gave  her  two  years  to 
prepare.  She  at  once  entered  Elizabethtown  College, 
Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania,  and  graduated  in  the  Bible 
Course  in  1908.  The  Conference  of  1908  approved  of  her 
and  she  sailed  the  same  fall  for  her  chosen  field,  India. 

When  sixteen  years  old,  Kathryn  gave  her  heart  to 
God  in  a  public  confession  and  united  with  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  in  the  Mingo  congregation,  baptism  being 
administered  by  her  uncle,  Jacob  Conner.  Her  spiritual 
life  was  a  steady  growth.  In  India  she  is  located  at 
Ankleshwer,  laboring  among  the  villages  and  helping  in 
the  Lord's  work  with  all  the  ability  within  her. 


413 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

JOHN  ZUCK 

Member   General   Mission   Board,   1899-1908 

Jacob  Zuck  was  a  faithful  deacon  who  served  the  Welsh 
Run  congregation  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  in 
Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  many  years.  His  wife, 
Susanna  (Martin)  Zuck,  was  of  godly  parentage.  To 
them,  while  living  at  the  foot  of  a  spur  of  the  Tuscarora 
Mountains,  known  as  "  Two  Tops,"  about  five  miles  south 
of  Mercersburg,  Pennsylvania,  was  born  on  October  4, 
1844,  their  first  child,  whom  they  called  John.  Up  to  six- 
teen, for  the  most  part,  his  life  consisted  in  hard  work 
on  his  father's  farm,  so  that  his  crippled  brother,  Jacob 
M.  Zuck,  who  became  the  founder  of  Juniata  College, 
might  be  enabled  to  go  to  school.  He  had  little  chance 
even  at  a  common  school  education,  because  in  the  fall  and 
early  winter,  he  helped  his  father  thresh  out  the  crop  by 
riding  the  horses,  while  they  trampled  the  grain  on  the 
barn  floor.  Then,  seeing  the  great  advantage  of  an  educa- 
tion, he  doubled  every  effort  to  secure  one.  Sitting  on  the 
plow  beam  in  the  field,  he  learned  the  Greek  alphabet 
while  the  horses  were  resting.  At  nineteen  he  was  equipped 
with  a  certificate  to  teach  common  school.  By  hard  study  he 
secured  the  highest  professional  grade  certificate.  In 
1874  he  had  his  ambition  satisfied,  for  the  time,  in  a  cer- 
tificate from  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  for 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  During  his  evenings,  while 
teaching  school,  along  with  pursuing  the  prescribed  work 
for  advancement,  he  learned  to  read  and  write  the  Ger- 
man language.  He  also  qualified  himself  as  a  surveyor, 
which  vocation  he  has  followed  for  about  forty  years. 
During  most  of  this  time  he  served  as  county  surveyor, 
an  office  tendered  him  without  his  seeking,  for  he  never 
attended  a  political  convention,  nor  did  he  seek  nomina- 
tion. He  taught  school  for  seventeen  years  and  during 
this  time  directed  and  developed  his  farm.  In  1870  he 
moved   to   Shady   Grove,    Pennsylvania,   and   in   1877  to 

424 


Biographical 

Cedar  County,  Iowa,  where,  on  a  farm  near  Clarence, 
he  still  resides. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sister  Lydia  J.  Bohrer 
on  December  20,  1866,  and  to  them  were  born  five  sons  and 
five  daughters,  of  whom  four  sons  and  five  daughters  are 
living  today. 

In  the  beginning  of  manhood  in  April,  1867,  Brother 
Zuck  confessed  Christ  by  uniting  with  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  the  Welsh  Run  congregation  of  Franklin 
County,  Pennsylvania.  His  activity  in  things  spiritual 
prompted  the  same  congregation  to  call  him  to  the  min- 
istry in  June,  1869.  The  next  year,  having  moved  to  Fall- 
ing Springs  congregation,  near  Shady  Grove,  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  second  degree,  and  in  1886,  having  located 
in  Iowa,  he  was  ordained  to  the  ofl!ice  of  bishop,  Joshua 
Shultz  being  one  of  the  brethren  engaged  in  laying  on 
hands.  Immediately  he  was  given  the  oversight  of  the 
Cedar  County  congregation,  which  care  is  upon  him  to 
this  day.  He  also  served  as  bishop  of  a  number  of  con- 
gregations in  his  District  at  different  times,  though  his 
busy  life  did  not  permit  him  to  do  justice  to  the  respon- 
sibility resting  upon  him.  Ever  since  a  minister,  he  has 
been  active  in  the  pulpit,  holding  evangelistic  services. 
After  his  ordination  he  was  placed  on  a  number  of  im- 
portant committees,  both  in  his  District  and  for  the  Gen- 
eral Brotherhood.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Committee 
that  reported,  in  1884,  the  plan  for  organized  mission 
work.  He  also  served,  in  1882,  on  the  committee  on  Re- 
vision of  Conference  Minutes.  In  1891  he  represented 
his  District  first  at  Conference  and  enjoyed  this  service, 
in  all,  seven  times.  He  was  Moderator  of  the  Conference 
at  Bristol,  Tennessee,  in  1905. 

While  serving  the  church  on  the  General  Mission 
Board  for  nine  years,  he  was  a  regular  attendant  and  a 
careful  student  of  what  was  being  done.  He  did  not 
speak  as  often  as  others,  but  when  he  did,  his  words  were 
laden  with  wisdom  and  good  judgment.  Of  the  work  of 
the  Board  he  has  this  to  say: 

My  experience  with  the  work  of  the  Board  was  ex- 
ceedingly fraternal  and  all  grave  and  far-reaching  prob- 

425 


Missions  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 

lems  were  approached  prayerfully  and  with  considera- 
tion, to  the  honor  and  glory  of  God,  and  for  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  church  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  Those 
who  have  never  served  on  the  Board,  have  a  meager  idea 
of  the  perplexities  and  burdens  that  must  be  met  and 
borne  by  the  Board  as  servants  of  our  Brotherhood  with 
its  varied  conditions  at  home  and  in  foreign  lands. 


SAMUEL   R.  ZUG 
Member  of  General  Mission  Board,  1893-1898 

Benjamin  Zug,  of  Swiss  lineage,  and  Elizabeth  Ruhl, 
his  wife,  of  German  descent,  both  faithful  members  who 
served  in  the  deacon's  office  for  thirty-six  years,  had  five 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Their  son,  Samuel  Ruhl  Zug, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  February 
29,  1832.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  had  little  opportunity 
for  attending  school,  yet,  at  eighteen,  he  began  teaching 
public  school,  and  taught  for  four  consecutive  winters. 
In  1853  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  served 
ten  years.  In  1855  he  was  elected  school  director  and 
occupied  that  office  for  three  years.  He  was  an  active  busi- 
ness man,  and  though  quite  successful,  met  with  some 
serious  reverses.  He  recovered  at  least  enough,  however, 
to  be  comfortable  in  his  old  days.  He  is  living  a  retired 
life  with  his  son  John,  in  Palmyra,  Pennsylvania. 

On  May  27,  1852,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Fanny 
W.  Shelly,  daughter  of  Henry  Shelly,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  four  sons. 

Not  until- 1861  did  Samuel  and  his  wife  confess  Christ. 
It  was  at  a  love  feast,  held  on  Samuel  Graybill's  farm,  and 
they  were  baptized  by  Philip  Zigler,  thus  becoming  mem- 
bers of  the  White  Oak  congregation.  On  October  11, 
1865,  the  same  congregation  called  him  to  the  ministry. 
In  1871  he  was  advanced  to  the  second  degree,  and  on 
Thanksgiving  Day,  1885,  in  the  Chiques  congregation, 
he  was  ordained  to  the  bishopric  through  the  laying  on 
of  hands  by  S.  Harley  and  William  Hertzler.  On  the 
same  day  he  was  given  the  oversight  of  the  Chiques  con- 

426 


Biographical 

gregation,  which  care  he  resigned  in  1910.  Brother  Zug 
was  a  very  aggressive  worker  for  the  church  and  his 
Lord.  It  was  through  his  efforts,  in  1867,  that  his  home 
congregation  had  a  series  of  meetings, — the  first  for  the 
Brethren  in  the  county.  In  1878  he  asked  to  conduct  a 
Sunday-school.  Permission  was  granted  him,  but  not  in 
the  church.  The  next  year  permission  was  granted  to  have 
the  school  in  the  church,  and  it  has  been  a  live  school 
ever  since.  Besides  being  bishop  of  the  Chiques  congre- 
gation, he  served  in  the  same  capacity  for  a  period  of 
time  in  the  Lancaster  City,  York  City,  Hatrisburg,  Phil- 
adelphia, West  Greentree,  and  Elizabethtown  congre- 
gations. It  was  through  his  agitation  that  District  Mis- 
sions were  begun  in  1879.  He  was  made  a  member  of 
the  Board,  and  served  until  1893.  Beginning  with  1866 
he  has  attended  every  District  Meeting  since  he  was  clerk 
of  the  meeting,  for  twenty  consecutive  years.  He  at- 
tended forty-two  Annual  Conferences,  and  was  either  del- 
egate from  his  congregation  or  from  his  State  District. 
It  was  through  his  influence  that  Ministerial  Meetings 
began  in  1893,  and  have  since  continued  with  such  good 
results. 

His  labors  are  almost  done.  Some  years  since  he  re- 
tired from  active  physical  labor,  and  since  then  also  from 
responsibility  in  the  church.  He  is  waiting  to  join  loved 
ones  on  the  other  shore,  as  he  lives  with  his  son  John, 
in  their  home  in  Palmyra,  Pennsylvania, — yet  active, — for 
he  still  takes  his  turn  in  preaching  in  the  home  congrega- 
tion, and  frequently  is  called  to  officiate  at  funerals. 


427 


APPENDIX  A 

mSMBEBS  OF  TH£  BOOK  AND  TKACT  WOBK  AND  THEXB 
TEBXS  OF   OFFICB 


1885 

S. 

D.  R  oy- 

S. W. 

A.  Min- 

B 

.  F.  Mil- 

J. Hep-  S.  Bock 

er 

Hoov- 
er 

nlck 

ler 

ner 

1886 

It 

*t 

(«              «• 

1887 

*i 

<« 

Isaac           " 

Frantz 

1888 

C( 

«« 

<i               <( 

1889 

l« 

tt 

tt               t* 

1890 

D.  S.  Fll- 
brun 

W. 

W.  Barn- 
hart 

«<               <■ 

1891 

" 

** 

« 

1892 

M 

f 

II               If 

1893 

i« 

tt 

II               tt 

BSCOBD   OF   OFFZCIAIi   SEBVICi:   OF  BOOK  AND   TBACT 

WOBK 


Foreman 

Treasurer 

Sec 

retary 

1885 

S 

W. 

Hoover 

J.  A. 

Hepner 

S. 

Bock 

1886 

** 

«i 

1887 

S. 

Bock 

<f 

1888 

<i 

1889 

*t 

1890 

1891 

*t 

1892 

1893 

u 

APPENDIX  B 

CONFBBBNCB   OFFBBZNGS  THBOUGH  THE   7EABS 

1890,  Pertle   Springs,   Missouri,    $  224.20 

1891,  Hagerstow^n,    Maryland,    295.11 

1892,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,   366.82 

1893,  Muncie,    Indiana,    244.33 

1894,  Meyersdale,   Pennsylvania 260.88 

1895,  Decatur,  Illinois,  366.12 

1896,  Ottawa,  Kansas 302  00 

1897,  Frederick,   Maryland 500.74 

1898,  Burlington   Park,   Illinois,    1,400.01 

1899,  Roanoke,    Virginia,     1,609.90 

1900,  North   Manchester,  Indiana,   1.868.00 

1901,  Lincoln,  Nebraska,   1.881.22 

428 


Appendix 

1902,  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,   $  1,732,66 

1903,  Bellefontaine,    Ohio,    5,632.04 

1904,  Carthage,   Missouri,    5,677.l9 

1905,  Bristol,  Tennessee,   7,750.61 

1906,  Springfield,   Illinois,    10il42!32 

1907,  Los  Angeles,   California 8,266.21 

1908,  Des  Moines,  Iowa 23,594.76 

1909,  Harrisonburg,    Virginia,    12,716.36 

1910,  Winona  Lake,  Indiana,   16,482.95 

191 1,  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,   13,563.01 

1912,  York,    Pennsylvania,    16,099.95 

1913,  Winona  Lake,  Indiana,   20,796.88 

Total $151,774.27 

MSMBEBS  OF  THE  TBACT  EXAMimNG  COaaSXTTSB 
AND   THEIB   TERM    OF   SEBVIGE 


1885 
1886 

Enoch           R 
Eby 

.H 

APPENDIX  C 

.  Miller    Landon           B.    F. 
West          Moomaw 

s. 

F. 

Sanger 
TVToVilpr 

1887 

Jacob    Rife 

1888 

S.  F.  SanK« 

ir. 

1889 

1890 
1891 

'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. '.a. 

W 

.  Teeter 

I.  D.  Parker 

1892 

.Daniel  Hai 

rs. 

1893 

Ti 

Miller 

1894 

1895 
1896 

'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.J! 

H.' 

Moore., 

D.  S.  Filbrun 

L. 

W 

.  Teeter 

1897 

* 

1898 

Daniel  Hai 

iS. 

1899 

H.C.Early.. 

' 

1900 

1901 

I. 

J.   Rosen- 
rger 

190!? 

be 

1903 

1904 

T.  C.  Denton. 

1905 

J.  E.  Mohler ...    . 

1906 

A. 

C. 

Wieand 

1907 

I.   J. 

berg( 

"Ro«!eTi- 

1908 

2r 

1909 

A.    G.    Cross- 
white 

1910 

Paul  Mohler. .  . 

1911 

D. 

N. 

Eller.  . 

1912 

J. 

w. 

Lear. , 

1913 

E  B  Hoff 

1914 

1915 

■ 

1916 

*No  one  reelected  and  D 

1917 

i 

K  Hays  held  over. 

429 

Appendix 
APPENDIX  D 

XJST  OF  FAld^HIiETS  AND  TBACTS  TXt  1913 

Numbers  having  "  E  "  before  them  means  the  tract  is  pub- 
lished in  envelope  size,  3^4  x  5  ^/^  Indies.  All  others  are  pages 
t^  X  IVz  inches. 

Series  I,  Famphlets   (per  hundred,  at  prices  quoted). 

41.  Christian  Baptism.     D.  C.  Moomaw,  16  pp.,  $0.90. 
E  42.  The  Church  of  the  Brethren.     D.  L.  Miller,  20  pp.,  $0.70. 

43.  Church  Entertainments.     I.  J.  Rosenberger,  11  pp.,  $0.70. 

44.  Trine  Immersion.     J.  H.   Moore,   52  pp.,   $2.80. 

45.  Path  of  Life.     Daniel  Hays,  36  pp.,  $2.1'5. 

46.  The  Sabbath  or  Lord's  Day.     L  J.  Rosenberger,  28  pp., 
$1.75. 

47.  Perfect  Plan  of  Salvation.     J.  H.  Moore.  25  pp.,  $1.60. 

48.  Secret    Societies   Incompatible   with   Christianity.      I.    J. 
Rosenberger,  17  pp.,  $1.10. 

49.  One  Baptism.     J.  H.  Moore,  42  pp.,  $2.35. 

B  50.  Baptism, — Historical  and  Exegetical.     Quincy  Leckrone, 

E.  48  pp.,  $1.10. 
E  51.  Spiritualism.     I.  J.  Rosenberger,  64  pp.,  $3.60. 

Series  ZI,  50  cents  per  hundred 

101.  Why  I  Love  My  Church.    W.  B.  Stover. 

102.  Which  Is  the  Right  Church?     S.  T.  Carpenter. 

103.  Come  Let  Us   Reason   Together.      (Tobacco   Tract.)      D. 
L.   Miller. 

104.  Communion.     H.  C.  Early. 

105.  The  Bible  Service  of  Feet-Washing.     Landon  West. 
E106.  The  House  We  Live  In.     D.  Vaniman. 

107.  Origin  of  Single  Immersion.     James  Quinter. 

108.  Intemperance.     Jacob  Rife. 
E109.  The  Lighthouse.     A.  W.  Vaniman. 

110.  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music  in  Worship.     I.  J.  Rosen- 
berger. 
Elll.  Plain  Dressing.      D.   L.   Miller. 
E112.  Prayer  Covering.     S.  N.  McCann. 

113.  Christian  Salutation.     Salome  A.    (Stoner)   Myers. 

114.  Modern  Skepticism  in  the  Camp.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 
E115.  The  Lord's  Supper.     D.  L.  Miller. 

116.  Woman's  Work.     Sadie  Brallier  Noffsmger. 

117.  Our  Standard  of  Religion:  What  Is  It?     D.  Hays. 

118.  Sisters'  Prayer  Covering.     S.  Z.  Sharp. 
E119.  The  Dual  Crucifixion.     L.  W.  Teeter. 

Series  III,  25  cents  per  hundred 

270.  Atoning  Blood  of  Christ.     C.  Hope. 

271.  Design  of  Baptism.     W.  B.  Stover. 

E272.  What  Shall  I  Do  With  the  Commandments  of  Jesus?    J. 
E.  Miller.  ,    ,    „ 

273.  Close  Communion  Examined.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 

274.  Christian  Giving.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 

275.  Are  Christians  Allowed  to  Swear?     S.  Z.  Sharp. 
E276.  Anointing.     L.  W.  Teeter.  „,    „     , 

E277  The  Safe  Church  Doctrine.     L.  W.  Teeter. 

E278.   Standard  of  Nonconformity.     Daniel  Hays. 

E279.  Three  Links  of  Oddfellowship.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 

E280.   Organization  of  the  Church.     B.  B.  Kesler. 

E281.  How  and  Whom  to  Baptize.     Daniel  Hays. 

E282.  The  Second  Coming  of  Christ. 

E283.  The  Gospel  Door  Into  the  Church.       _ 

E284.  Why  We  Should  Speak  of  Secret  Societies. 

430 


Appendix 


E285.  Secret  Societies  and  the  Word  of  God. 

E286.  Shall  I  Drink  or  Not  Drink?     J.  W,  Wayland. 

Series  ZV,  10  cents  per  hundred 

E301.  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

E302.   The  Lighthouse.     A.  W.  Vaniman. 

E303.  Why  Am  I  Not  a  Christian?     S.  W.  Hoover. 

E304.  Christian  Baptism.     B.  F.  Moomaw. 

E305.  Trine  Argument  for  Trine  Immersion. 

E306.  Feet-Washing.     J.  H.  Moore. 

E307.  Lord's  Supper.     J.  H.  Moore. 

E308.  Close  Communion.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 

E309.  Salutation.     J.  H.  Moore. 

E311.  Church  Entertainments.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 

E312.  Gold  and  Costly  Array.     S.  W.  Hoover. 

E313.  Christian  Giving.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 

E314.  Modern  Skepticism.     I.  J.  Rosenberger. 

E315.  Christ  and  War.    D.  Vaniman. 

E316.  Secret  Societies. 

E319.  The  Old  Way  of  Baptizing.     W.  B.  Stover. 

E320.  Are  You  Prepared  to  Die?     James  A.  Sell. 

E321.   The  Blessings  of  Divine  Association.     Adaline  Beery. 

E322.  Infant  Baptism.     I.  Bennett  Trout. 

E323.  Helping  Jesus.     D.  Vaniman. 

E324.   Saturday  or  Sunday,  Which? 

E325.  The  Ministry  of  Sorrow.     James  A.  Sell. 

E326.   The   Judgment.      S.   N.    McCann. 

E327.  Stop  and  Think.     D.  Vaniman. 

E328.  Secret  Prayer. 

E329.  The  Importance  of  Church  Membership.     D.  Hays. 

E330.   Spirituality. 

E331.  A  Few  Open  Questions.     Andrew  Hutchison. 

E332.  The  Bridge.     O.  H.  Yereman. 
318.  The  Brethren's  Card.     On  one  side  a  suitable  invitation 
blank   for   all   Sunday    services.      On   other   side   a   com- 
prehensive statement  of  doctrines  of  the  church.     Splen- 
did. 

TRACTS   IN   FOREIGN   IiANGUAGES 

Tracts  in  the  following  foreign  languages  given  below 
are  translations  of  tracts  of  corresponding  number  in  the  En- 
glish language  and  are  furnished  at  the  same  rate. 

Swedisli  Tracts 

S  42.  Broderna.     D.  L.  Miller. 

5106.  Det  Hus,  hvari  vi  lefva.     D.  Vaniman. 

5107.  Uppkomsten    af    Nedsankning    i    vatten 
James  Quinter. 

S3 15    Kristus  og  Krig.     D.  Vaniman. 

Danish  Tracts 

D  42.  Broedremenigheden.     D.  L.   Miller. 

D106.  Guds  Hus  Hvori  vi  leve.     D.  Vaniman. 

D107.   En  enkelt  Daabsakt  og  dens  Historie.     James  Quinter. 

D315.  Kristus  og  Krig.     D.  Vaniman. 

German  Tracts 

G  42.  Die  Gemeinde  der  Briider.     D.  L.  Miller. 
G105.  Die  Bibel-Anordnung  des  Fusswaschens.     Landon  West. 
G106.  Das  Haus  worin  wir  wohnen.     D.  Vaniman. 
G107.  Der  Ursprung  der  einmaligen  Untertauchung.     J.  Quin- 
ter. 
G112.  Die  Bedeckung  beim  Gebet.     S.  N.  McCann. 
G271.  Der  Zweck  der  Taufe.     W.  B.   Stover. 
G272.  Was  soil  ich  mit  den  Geboten  Jesu  thun?     J.  E.  Miller. 


blott    en    gang. 


431 


Appendix 
APPENDIX  E 

ASSXSTANCB    ON    BUII.SXNa    lUSETXlTaHOUSES    7B0K 
THE    BEGINNING 
Arkansas, 

Donation  Loan  Total 

1888,   Stuttgart $    300.00 


Idaho, 

1886    Moscow 

.      $    200.00 

1901.  Namna 

100.00 

1904.  Pavette 

74.31 

1908,  Weiser 

XUiuois, 

1891-1902,    Chicago,    

1892  &  1902,  Sterling,    . 
1897    Batavia 

.      $2,235.00 
300.00 
300.00 

1900    Canton 

50.00 

1901.  Elgin 

500.00 

;.902,   Swan    Creek 

1908,  Rockford,       . .  .t. . . 

100.00 

1896,  Pilot   Knob 100.00  $    100.00  

1899,  St.   Francis 156.00  200.00  

1903.  Austin 100.00  

1903,  Mt.    Hope 100.00  

1904,  Austin,     50.00          $1,106.00 


Alaljama, 

1905,  Fruitdale,     $    200.00         $    200.00 


Arteona, 

1896,  Glendale,    $    200.00  $    200.00 


California, 

1887,  Covina $    100.00  

1897,   Tropico,    150.00  $     150.00  

1901,  Los  Angeles,    100.00  

1902,  Lordsburg 150.00  

1904,  Laton 200.00  

1911,  Chlco 500.00  

1912,  Empire 1.000.00  

1913,  Raisin 1,500.00          $3,850.00 


Colorado, 

1896,  Denver $    250.00  

1899,  Grand  Valley $    250.00  

1901,  Villa    Park 150.00  150.00  

1902,  Rocky   Ford 100.00  

1906,   Fruita 600.00  

1910,  Mt.    Garfield 1,500.00  

1911,  Mt.    Clave 700.00  

1911,   Prowers 300.00  

1913,  Lowland 200.00  

1913,  TViley,     1,500.00  $6,250.00 

Denmark, 

1885.  Hordum $1,200.00  $1,200.00 

District  of  Columbia, 

1900,  Washington $9,833.05  $9,833.05 


$    100.00  

Voo'.oo       $i,'oV4".3i 


450.00  

500.66       '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 
'i.'sbV.oo       's.Va'o'.oo 


432 


Appendix 


Indlaua, 

1891,  N.  Brunswick 

%    200.00 

1892,  West  Lebanon,    .  .  . 

100.00 

$   100.66       

1892.  Hlllisburg 

100.00 

200.00           

1892,  Kewanna 

200.00 

1893,  New    Hope,    

200.00 

1897,  Palestine,    

100.00 

100.66       

1898,   Sampson    Hill,    . .  . 

200.00 

1898,  Windfall 

100.00 

100.66       

1  8Q8     Muncie 

150.00 
600.00 

1899,  Ft.   Wayne 

1902  &  1903,  Portage,  . . . 

250.00 

450.66          $3,150.66 

Zowa, 

1889  &  1891,  Rock  Grove, 

$    200.00 

$    300.00          . 

1892,  Irish  Grove 

200.00 

1892,  Boone  River,    

175.00 

175.66          

1893,  Kingsley 

loO.OO 

1894,  Cedar  Rapids 

350.00 

1894,  Cedar  County, 

150.00 

1895,  Sheldon, 

100,00 

1896,  Des  Moines 

200.00 

1902,  Ottumwa,     

200.00 

1904    Morrill 

150.00 

1913    Slifer 

500.00          $2,850.00 

riorida, 

1886    Keuka 

$       63.00 

$      63.00 

Kansas, 

1886,  Belleville 

$    lOO.O'O 

1887,  Pleasant  View,    .  . . 

200.00 

1888,  Plympton 

125.00 

1889,  Walnut    Valley,    .  . 

200.00 

300.66       

1899.  Chapman  Creek,    . . 

254.67          

1890,  Newton 

100.66 

1890,  Kansas  Center,    .  . . 

200.00 

1890,  Vermillion 

100.00 

300.66       

1891,  Cedar  Creek 

100.00 

300.00          

1892,  Wades  Branch,    .  . . 

100.00 

125.00          

1892,  Dorrance 

178.00 

1892,  Monte  Vista 

200.00 

150.66       

1893,  Prairie   View,    

200.00 

100.00          

1894,  Eden  Valley 

150.00 

1895,  Scott    Valley,    

100.00 

1895,  Topeka 

100.00 

1895,  Washington 

200.00 

150.66       

1896,  Wichita 

100.00 

1898    White     

100.00 
150.00 

1898,  Fort    Scott,    

200.00           

1899,  Parsons 

200.00 

400.00          

1899,  Kansas  City 

300.00 

300.00          

1899    and   1902. 

North    Solomon,    . . 

180.00 

1900,  Verdigris 

200.66       

1901    Labette      

100.66 

100.00 

200.00          

1901.   Santa  Fe.    

1906,  Fredonia,     

200.66       

1  <)1 1     Np'wton 

■300.66 

800.00          

1911    Bloom          

800.00          

1912,  Verdigris,     

1912,  Lawrence 

2,000.66        $16,662.67 

433 


Appendix 


KonlBlana, 

1893,  Esterly,     

1895,  Jennings $    150.00 

Klclilsran, 

1890,  Saginaw $    200.00 

1890,   Rodney 175.00 

1893  &  '94,   Sugar  Ridge,  200.00 

1898,  Black   River 75.00- 

1902,  Crystal   Lake,    100.00 

1906,  Lake   View 

1911,  Onekama,    

aCiiLuesota, 

1900,  Worthington $    100.00 


lOlssoiirl, 

1887,  Honey   Creek $    ISO.Oa 

1888,  La    Forge,     200.00 

1889,  Cabool 100.00 

1889,  Mount  View 40.00 

1889    &  '92,  Mansfield,    ..  150.00 

1890,  Waynesville 200.00 

1890,  Warrensburg,     

1890,  Mound 200.00 

1892  &  '97,  Osceola,  ...  125.00 
1893,  Spring  Branch,  .  . .  150.00 
1893,  Nevada 

1893,  Dry    Fork,    

1896,  Carthage 200.00 

1896,  Smith    Grove 200.00 

1897,  Kidder 100.00 

1901,   Spring    Run 75.00 

1905,  Frisco 

Nebraska, 

1887,  Salem $    100.00 

.     1887,   Sidney 250.00 

1894,  Golden   Springs 

1901,  Highland 200.00 

1901,   Lincoln 200.00 

1901,  Vi^ood    River,    150.00 

1903,  Red    Cloud,     200.00 

Xrew  York, 

1908,  Brooklyn $29,300.00 


JBTortli  Carolina, 

1891,  Ashe   County $    125.00 

North  Dakota, 

1897,  Cando $    100.00 

1899    &    1901,    Cando,     ..  300.00 

1901,   Salem 200.00 

1903,  Turtle    Mt 100.00 

1903,  Deer    Park 100.00 

1904,  Berthold 150.00 

1904,  Rock   Lake,    150.00 

1904,  Surrey 200.00 

1905,  Bowbells 

1908,  James    River 

1908.  Williston,    

434 


%    200.00  

$    350.00 

$    100.00  

'2oo'.66  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

'soo'.oo  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

500.00  $1,850.00 


100.00 
150.00 

Vo'o.oo 
YoV.oo 
VoV.oo 

300.001 

"iVo'.oo 
'200.66 


300.00 
200.00 


150.00 
300.00 


$    200.00 
600.00 

'200'.  6  6 
Vo'o.oo 


500.00 

600.00 

1,000.00 


$    100.00 


$3,440.00 


$2,050.00 


$    125.00 


Appendix 

1910,  Roosevelt $    300.00         

1913,   Egeland,    500.00          $5,350.00 

Ohio, 

1898,  Circleville $    100.00  

1902,  Lima,     200.00  |    300.00 


OUahoma, 

1895,   Paradise  Prairie,    .      $    100.00  

1898,   Oalt    Grove,    100.00  

1898,  Big   Creek,    200.00  

1901,   Mt.    Hope 100.00  100.00  

1901,  Mound    Valley,    ...  50.00  100.00  

1902,  Gutiirie,     300.00  100.00  

1903  &  1904,  Hoyle 150.00  120.00  

1904,  Guthrie 262.00  

1904,  Hancock 200.00  

1904,   Monitor 200. uO  

1907,   North   Star 400.00  

1909,   Red  River 500.00  

1909,  Bright    Star 200.00  

1910,  Elk    Creek 500.00  

1911,  Prairie    Lake,    340.00          $4,022.00 

Oregfon, 

1892  &  1900, 

Powell's  Valley,    ..      $    350.00  $    200.00  

1895,  Mohawk 300.00  

1895,  Ashland 100.00  

1904,  Newberg,     250.00  

1907,  Weston 1,300.00  

1913,  Bandon 450.00          $2,950.00 


Pennsylvania, 

1895,  Tyrone $    250.00          

1897,   Bellwood,     100.00                200.00           

1899,  Mechanics       Grove,  100.00          

1899,  Hanover 100.00          

1900,  Rockton 100.00  100.00          $    950.00 


Soutli  Dakota, 

1892,  Bijou $    125.00  $    125.00  $    250.00 


Sweden, 

1887,  Kjefllnge $    257.00  

1888,  Limhamn 810.00  

1892,  Vannaberga,     1,082.50  $2,149.59 

Switzerland, 

1901,   Geneva, $2,650.00 

Tennessee, 

1888 $     150.00  

1889,  Valley 60.00  

1891,  Knox   County $     100.00  

1897,   Piney    Flats 50.00  50.00  

1904,  Crowson,     175.00  $    585.00 

Texas, 

1888  &  '89,  Lipscomb,    ..      $    558.97         

1889,  Farwell 250.00         

1890,  Clay  County,   150.00  

435 


Appendix 

1893,  Pomona $    200.00  

1900,   Saginaw 150.00  $    150.00  

1911,   Saginaw,     200.00          $1,658.97 

Virginia, 

1890,  Patrick   Co.,    $    200.00         

1893,  Henry  Co.,    100.00  

1894,  Union,     %      75.00  


1895,  Boanoke 200.00 

1899,   Staunton,     100.00  300.00  

1901,  Mt.  Tanner,    100.00  

1902,  Mt.    Joy     50.00  50.00  

1903,  St.   Pauls 75.00  

1903,  Walnut   Grove,    ...  45.00  

1905,   Fairfax 600.00  

1910,  Christiansburg 350.00          $2,29o.00 

WasMngton, 

1901,  Sunnyside $    200.00         $    300.00  

1903,  Centralia,    150.00         

1905     &    1908,     Spokane 1,100.00  

1913,  Tacoma 700.00          $2,450.00 

West  Virginia, 

1889,  Buckhannon $    100.00  

1891,  Wicklow,     75.00  

1893   &  '94,   Braxton   Co.,  100.00  $    200.00  

1894,  Bethany 100.00  

1898,  Goshen 100.00  

1899,  Red    Oak 100.00  

1900,  Beach    Grove 50.00  

1903.  Indian  Camp 100.00  $    925.00 

Wisconsin, 

1892,  Chippewa,     $    300.00  $    100.00  

1895,  Barron 100.00  100.00  

1898.  Irvin  Creek 100.00  100.00  

1899,  Ash    Ridge 125.00  125.00  

1904,  Chippewa  Valley,   .  100.00  i:v„VAA 

1904,  Maple  Groye 135.00  $1,285.00 

Total $111,409.59 


436 


Appendix 


APPENDIX  F 

OISH  FUB&ZSHZKG  COSnOITTEi:  AND  TBEXB  TERMS  OF 

SEBVICi: 

The  brethren  who  have  served  on  the  Gish  Publishing  Fund 
are  as  follows: 


1899  L.  T.  Holsinger 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903  L.  T.  Holsinger 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 


A.  H.  Puterbaugh  J.  H.  Moore 


L.  T.  Holsinger 
Grant  Mahan 


J.  H.  B.  Williams 
J.  H.  B.  Williams 


J.  E.  Miller 

J.  E.  Miller 
J.  E.  Miller 


J.  E.  Miller 
J.  E.  Miller 


J.  H.  Moore 

J.  W.  Wayland 
J.  W.  Wayland 


J.  W.  Wayland 
I.  Bennett  Trout 


APPENDIX  G 


TOTAIi  ANNX7AX,  BECEIFTS  OF  THE  GENEBAI^  MISSION 

BOABD 


1885, 
1886, 
1887, 
1888. 
1889, 
1890, 
1891, 


.$ 


3,407.37 
3,074.84 
3,877.29 
4,184.41 
5,587.28 
7,936.32 
7,628.09 


1892,  11.513.14 

1893 8,989.17 

1894,  9,878.39 

1895 10,691.78 

1896 17,258.91 

1897.  20,259.29 

1898 31,423.06 

1899,  32,123.09 


1900,  50,978.07 

1901,  39,112.74 

1902,  41,215.52 

1903 42,095.89 

1904,  52,237.64 

1905 58,004.59 

1906,  69,142.17 

1907,  66,960.89 

1908,  67,642.63 

1909 87,049.79 

1910,  69,922.67 

1911,  72,413.00 

1912,  90,748.72 

1913,  100,842.38 

$1,086,199.13 


437 


Appendix 
APPENDIX  H 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  GENEBAI.  MISSION  BOABD  AND 
THEIR  TERM  OF  SERVICE 


1880 

E. 

Eby 

S.  T.  Bos- 

J.  Quinter 

Jos. 

Leedy 

D.  B.  Bru- 

serman 

baker 

No 

reappointments 

till  1884. 

1884 

D. 

L. 

D.  Vani- 

S.  Kiddles- 

E. 

.  Eby 

C.  P.  Row- 

Miller 

man 

berger 

land 

1885 

«( 

«i 

E. 

S. 

Young 

J.  R.  Gish 

1886 

«• 

«< 

II 

II 

1887 

«< 

tt 

14 

J.  W.  Price 

1888 

*t 

II 

C. 

,H 

.  Haw- 

II 

baker 

1889 

If 

«< 

14 

«< 

1890 

« 

41 

41 

4i 

1891 

<« 

l< 

J. 

L. 

Miller 

14 

1892 

«i 

L.  A.  Plate 

" 

4< 

1893* 

ti 

II 

II 

C.  W.  Lahman 

1893* 

E.  Eby 

S.  R.  Zug 

S. 

F. 

Sanger 

S.  W.  Hoover 

1894 

*( 

II 

II 

II 

1895 

ti 

II 

II 

Isaac  Frantz 

1896 

«< 

tt 

44 

II 

1S97 

« 

tt 

II 

L.  W.  Teeter 

1898 

« 

A.  B.  Barn- 
hart 

II 

44 

1899 

John  Zuck            ** 

44 

« 

1900 

it 

II 

44 

44 

1901 

*t 

14 

H.  C 

!.  Early 

<4 

1902 

« 

*t 

II 

II 

1903 

« 

4* 

II 

S.  P.  Sanger 

1904 

*t 

«t 

44 

44 

1905 

4t 

tt 

II 

« 

1906 

<« 

C.  D.  Bon- 
sack 

44 

L.  W.  Teeter 

1907 

II 

it 

44 

«< 

1908 

J.  J.  Yodei 

*« 

«« 

1909 

« 

u 

«f 

« 

1910 

Galen  B. 

Royert 

« 

*t 

<« 

14 

1911 

tt 

tt 

i< 

«« 

Otho  Win- 

1912 

H 

M, 

<i 

« 

ger 

1913 

*1983  is  repeated  because  the  General  Church  Erection 
and  Missionary  Committee  continued  till  1894  while  the  Gen- 
eral Missionary  and  Tract  Committee  began  in  1893. 

tD.  Li.  Miller  became  Life  Advisory  Member. 

438 


Appendix 


BECOBD   OF   OFFICXAJ^   SXBVZCE   OF   GENEBAZ;  MISSION 

BOABD 

President         Treasurer  Secretary       Asst.  Sec'y 

1880  E.  Eby  J.  Quinter    S.  T.  Bosserman 


1884  E.  Eby 

1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 

1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 

1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 


D.  L.  Miller       D.  L.  Miller 


Galen  B.  Royer 


Galen  B.  Royer 


1898 


1899  D.  L.  M 

[iller   Galen  B 

Royer 

1900 

« 

1901 

f< 

1902 

<f 

1903 

fi 

1904 

<f 

1905 

M 

1906 

« 

1907 

C< 

1908 

« 

1909 

<< 

1910 

«« 

1911 

M 

1912 

M 

J.  U.  B.  Williams 


1913 


439 


Appendix 


APPENDIX  I 

MISSXONASIES  AFFOIXTTEIt  BY  COKTEBEM'CE,  TEAB  BT 
YSAB,    WHETHEB    THEY    WENT    TO    THE    FIEIiD 

OB    NOT 

Not  all  can  go;  not  all  can  give,  though  they  be  f»..v 
who  can  not;  but  all  can  pray  and  should  pray  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  laborers  into  his  harvest 
field.  The  following  list  comprises  all  the  missionaries 
approved  by  Conference,  some  of  whom,  for  one  rea- 
son or  other,  were  not  permitted  to  go  after  the 
Brotherhood  said,  "Go."  They  are  on  the  home  base, 
doing  all  they  can  for  the  Master,  every  one  of  them 
a  missionary  at  heart.  One  was  called  up  higher  be- 
fore the  time  of  sailing  arrived. 

1876,  For  Denmark:  Christian  Hope. 

1894,  For  India:  W.  B.  Stover,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Stover,  Bertha 
Ryan,  A.  W.  Vaniman,  Alice  Vaniman. 

1895,  For  Asia  Minor:  G.  J.  Fercken. 

1896,  For  India:  E.  B.  Hoff,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Hoff,  Susie 
Slusher. 

1897,  For  India:  S.  N.  McCann,  D.  L.  Forney,  Mrs.  D.  L. 
Forney,    Elizabeth    Gibbel,    Wm.    M.    Howe. 

1898, 
1899, 

1900,  For  India:  Adam  Ebey,  Susie  Forney,  Alice  King, 
Eliza  B.  Miller. 

1901,  For  Sweden:  A.  W.   Vaniman,  Alice  Vaniman. 

1902,  For  India:  Gertrude  Rowland,  D.  J.  Lichty,  Jesse 
Emmert. 

1903,  For  India:  Wm.  H.  Wertenbaker,  I.  S.  Long,  Nora 
Arnold,  Sadie  J.  Miller,  Efifie  Showalter,  Anna  Det- 
weiler,  J.  M.  Blough,  Mary  N.  Quinter,  S.  P.  Berke- 
bile,  Mrs.  S.  P.  Berkebile. 

1904,  For  India:  J.  M.  Pittenger,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Pittenger, 
E.  H.  Eby,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Eby,  A.  W.  Ross,  Mrs.  A. 
W.  Ross,  J.  W.  Swigart,  S.  P.  Berkebile,  Mrs.  S.  P. 
Berkebile. 

1905, 

440 


Appendix 

1906,  For  China:  Frank  H.   Crumpacker,   Mrs.   Frank  H. 

Crumpacker,  Emma  Horning. 

For  India:  Ella  Miller,  Josephine  Powell,  Chas.  H. 

Brubaker. 
1907, 

1908,  For  China:  George  W.  Hilton,  Mrs.  George  W.  Hil- 
ton, 

For    India:    Ida    Himmelsbaugh,    Kathryn    Zigler. 
For  Cuba:  Blanche  Lentz. 
1909, 

1910,  For  China:   Minerva   Metzger. 
For  India:   Ida  C.   Shumaker. 

1911,  For  Sweden:  J.  F.  Graybill,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Graybill. 
For  France:  Paul  Mohler,  Mrs.  Paul  Mohler. 

For  China:  B.  Franklin  Heckman,  Mrs.  B.  Franklin 

Heckman,  J.  Homer  Bright,  Mrs.  J.  Homer  Bright, 

Anna    Hutchison,   Winnie    Cripe. 

For  India:  Grover  L.  Wine,  Mrs.  Grover  L.  Wine, 

Q.  A.  Holsopple,  Kathren  Royer,  J.  I.  Kaylor,  Rose 

Wagoner. 

1912,  For    India:    Herman    B.    Heisey,    Mrs.    Herman    B. 
Heisey,  S.   Olive  Widdow^son,  Anna   M.   Eby. 

1913,  For   Sweden:    Ida    Buckingham. 

For  Denmark:  A.  F.  Wine,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Wine. 
For  Chma:  Dr.  Fred  Wampler,  Mrs.  Fred  Wampler, 
Dr.  O.  G.  Brubaker,  Mrs.  O.  G.  Brubaker,  Ernest 
Vaniman,  Mrs.  Ernest  Vaniman,  Anna  V.  Blough. 
For  India:  Dr.  A.  Raymond  Cottrell,  Mrs.  Dr.  A. 
Raymond  Cottrell,  S.  Ira  Arnold,  Mrs.  S.  Ira  Ar- 
nold, B.  Mary  Royer. 


441 


UnDei 


Abernathy,   I.   W. 269 

Ahwa,    India 162 

Albaugh,    H.    P 183 

Albright,   J.   S.,    263 

Africa,     108 

Amick,    Joseph,    123,    213,    214. 

218,     220 

Andes,    J.    S. 254 

Ankleshwer,    India 152 

Annual   Report 85,    100 

Appeal  for  Home  Work,    ..26 

Apportionment,     60 

Appreciation 252 

Arnold,    Daniel 26 

Arnold,     Nora 155 

Arnold,    Robert   E 221 

Arnold,    S.    Ira 164 

Ashland,  Ohio,  Conference,  81 
Asia    Minor 

Beginning 194 

Discontinued 199 

Earliest  Record 193 

First  Baptism 194 

First   Love  Feast,    194 

Home,     195 

Organized,     195 

Orphanage 195 

Persecutions 196 

Report  of  D.   L.  Miller,   197 

Sympathy 197 

Workers,     199 

Assistance    Systematized,    253 
Assistance     in     Preparing 

Workers 262 

Barnhart,  A.  B.,  155,  189,  191, 
206.    207,    209.    218,    239,    252 

Barwick,    H.    W 219 

Bashor,    S.    H.,    73 

Beer.  J.  W 87 

Beery,    Cassie,    108 


Berkebile.  S.  P.,  155.  157,  161, 

248 

Bernard.    Claude,     236 

Bicentennial    Offering.    ...260 

Bingaman,  W.  L 194,  246 

Blessed  Experiences,  145,  155 

Blough,    Anna   V.,    259 

Blough,   J.   M 155,    162 

Blough,    Noah 121 

Bock,   S.,    125 

Bombshells 119 

Book  and  Tract  Work 

Constitution 124 

Officers 125 

Examining  Committee,    .125 
Meetings  at  Hoover's,  ..126 

Golden   Gleams 128 

List  of  Tracts  and  Pam- 
phlets  129 

Report   of    1887 128 

Circular    about    Endow- 
ment  131 

Distributions 132 

Consolidation 138 

Bosserman,    S.    T 122 

Bowman,    Benj 26 

Bowman,    Geo.    C 92 

Boyer,    Allen,     251 

Brethren      Publishing 
House 
How  It  Came  About,  ...212 

Subscription,    213 

Publication       D  e  p  a  rt  - 

ment,    214 

Special  Notice 215 

Valuable    Gift 216 

New   Location,    217 

Elgin 218 

New  Paper 219 

Management,    220 


442 


Index 


Record,    a    Good 220 

Field  Workers,    221 

Job    Work,     221 

Music   Editor 222 

Messenger    Editors,     ...223 
Messengers',  Missionary,  222 

S.    S.    Editor 223 

Advantage 224 

Contrast,    225 

For    Missions 224 

Bright,    J.   Homer,    ..257,    258 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Beginning,     205 

First   Sunday-school,    ...205 

Love    Feast 205 

Italian  Mission,    207 

Buildings,    208 

Spiritual    Oversight,    ...210 

Financial 210 

Brotherhood  Divided,    57 

Brubaker,  Chas.,  161,  162,   163 
Brubaker,   Cora  Cripe,    ...184 

Brubaker,    D.    E 72 

Brubaker,    O.    G.,    259 

Brumbaugh,    H.    B.,    194,    214, 

217,    246 

Bucklew,    Solomon,    77 

Bulsar,    India 149 

Call  of  Workers 100,109 

Campbell,  D.  C,    248 

Canada,     . 108 

Carthage,  Mo.,  Conference, 157 

Caruso,    John,    207 

Charitable  View,    43 

Chicago     Children's     Mis- 
sion,     181 

Chicago   Mission 

Beginning 178 

Organization 179 

First  Love  Feast 179 

Property    Bought,    180,    182 

General    Board 180 

Dispensary 182 

Extension,    S.    S 180 

Foreign  Workers  Here,  184 

Transfer 185 

Church  Extension  Union,    .63 

Church  Paper  in  1879,    72 

Church    Is    Ready 78 


Chirighotis,    Demetrius,     199, 

200 

Circular  to  Brotherhood,   ..98 
Circular  to  Solicitors,    ...101 

City    Missions,     105,    192 

Civil   War 43 

Clark,   D.   C 204 

Cobb,  E.  M 219,  221,  248 

Colonizing — S  e  c  o  n  d      in 

America 175 

Colored  People  of  South 
Definite  Proposition,   ...202 
Studying   Conditions,    ..203 

Preparation 203 

Mission  Opened 204 

Industrial 204 

Commission  Acknowledged,  34 
Conference  Meetings 

Limestone,    Tenn.,    41 

Elkhart,  Ind 43 

Consecration   Prayer,    .,..171 

Constitutions,     93 

Cottrell,   A.    R 164 

Coventry         Congregation, 

Pa.,    121 

Cripe,    Winnie 257-258 

Crumpacker,   F.   H.,    ..254-2o6 

Cuba 260 

Cunningham,    Mattie,    203-204 

Davy,    Henry 26,    57 

Dahanu,    India 154 

Danish   Tract   Fund 51 

"Dead  Letter,"    34 

Deep  Concern 147 

Deeter,  W.   R.,    93,    244 

Denmark 

Call  from 52 

Hope  Arrives  in 53 

Eby  and  Fry  Arrive,   ...    54 

Splendid   Work '58 

Neglect 58 

Church  Paper,   61 

Outlook 81 

Dark  Picture,    82 

Title    to    Property 84 

Hope   to  America 115 

C.   Hanson   in   Care   of,    116 

Difficult   Problem,    116 

Memorial  to  Kings,    ...201 


443 


Index 


Detwller,   Anna 155 

Dickey,   L.   H 92,    155 

Deardorff,    D.,    179 

Disappointment 35 

District   Boards    Closer   to 

General   Board 265 

Advantages 266 

Closer  Bond  Needful,    ..267 

List  of 269 

Table   of  Work 271 

Early,  H.  C,  155,  172,  204.  223, 

251,   252 

Ebey,  Adam,  ..153,  154,  162 
Eby,  E.  H.,  157,  161,  162,  164, 

310,   314 

Eby,  L..  H 133 

Edwards,  E.  Bombay 185 

Educational,   264 

Emigration 22 

Emmert,    Gertrude,    184 

Emmert,    J.    B 154 

Emmert,    Joseph,    26 

Emmert,    M.    W.,    183 

Endowment,    ...105,    107,    134 

Beginning    of 243 

Investigated,    244 

Opposed,    244 

Total 245 

Englar,   A.    and   Eliz 214 

Englar,    Eliz 214 

Englar,   Margaret,    214 

Eshelman,    M.    M.,    51 

Eskildsen,    C.    C 62 

Called  to  Ministry 55 

Ordained '56 

Evangelii,  Budbarare,  ...246 
Experience  Not  Required,  170 
Extensive  Occupation,  ...  25 
Extension,  S.  S.,  Chicago,  183 

Fahrney,   D.   H.,    73 

Failure    Continued 44 

Falkenstein,    G.   N.,    141 

Fathers,  Some  Worthy,    . .   26 

Fercken,    G.   J.,    193,    194,   195, 

196,  197,  233,  235,  236,  237, 

238,    239,    240 

Fllbrun,    D.    S 243 

Financial  Burden,  None,  .  24 
Finnell,  Virgil  C 221 


Fitzgerald,   J.   W 72 

Flohr,   M.   C 189 

Flohry,    John,    26 

Flory,   J.    S.,    73,    122 

Foreign    Missions,    27 

Forney,  D.  L 151,  157 

Forney,     John 75 

Forney,  Susie 181 

France 

Oyonnax 234 

Frantz,  Isaac 172,  299 

General  Church  Erection 
and  Mission  Commit- 
tee  95,    96 

Geib,   A.   P 211 

Geiger,    Mary    S.,    ...213.    237 

Gerber,    Abraham 26 

Gerber,  Daniel,    26 

Gerber,    Joseph 26 

Gibbel,    Eliz.,    ..151,    214.    356 

Gibson.    D.    B 123 

Gish,  Jas.  R..  87.  121,  191,  230 

Gish,  Barbara 230,   231 

Gish    Publishing   Fund,    ..230 
Gish   Testament  Fund 

Great    Need 191 

Unique  Book,    192 

Golden    Gleams 128 

Gospel  Tract  Association.   121 
Gospel  Visitor,    24,    26.    29.    41 

Grater,   Eliz.,    207 

Graybill,   J.   F 248 

Groff,  B.  G 212 

Grote,    Wm 218 

Gujerati    Quarterly,     162 

Hamilton,    Hiel 72 

Hand   Book 241 

Hansen,    C,    ..52,    53,    54,    116 

Harley.  Samuel 82.  92 

Harmony,  Not  in  Full,   ...    81 

Heckman,   B.   F..    257,   258 

Heckman,    John 221 

Heisey,  H.   B 164 

Helping   Hand 241 

Hendricks,  Joseph, 123 

Hepner,    Jacob 125 

Hickory  Grove  Congrega- 
tion,   111 50 

Hillary,  Lemuel 121 


444 


Index 


Hilton,  Geo.  W.,  2'o6,  257,  258 

Hlmmelsbaugh,   Ida 162 

Hixon,    A.    J.,     73 

Hjorring    Church,     55 

Hoke,  Geo 26 

Holllnger,   Albert,    ..188,    189 

Holslnger,  H.  R.,   73,  87 

Holsopple,   Q.  A 164 

Home   Mission   Church,    .  .    21 

Hoover,   Jacob 26 

Hoover,  O.  P.,   149 

Hoover,   S.   W.,   125,   176,    192, 

213,   243 

Horning,  Emma,  254,  257,  259 

Howe,   Ellz 180,   181 

India 

First    Applicant,     140 

Others  Accepted 142 

Official    Call,    142 

Pressure 144 

First  Missionaries 147 

Sailing  to 149 

First  Report,   149 

Bulsar 149 

Difficult  Problems 150 

Topee    in 150 

Orphanages,    151 

Accessions,     151 

Mingling   of   Castes,    ...151 

Navsari 152 

Famine,    152 

Ankleshwer 152 

Wind  Pump 153 

Results  of  Famine 153 

First   Furlough 153 

First      Represented  at 

Conference 153 

Statistics,     1901 154 

Gifts   to   Famine 154 

Blessed    Beginnings,     ..156 

District  Board 157 

Waterloo   Building,    160 

Vali,    160 

Vada 161 

Vyara 161 

Orphanage,    United,     ...161 
Dr.        Yereman       With- 
draws  161 

Educational,    161,   166 


Jhagadla,    162 

Ahwa 162 

Gujerati    Quarterly,    ...162 
Death     of     Ebey     Chil- 
dren,      162 

Native      Dist.       Mission 

Board 162 

Support 163 

First  Missionary  to  die,  163 

Development 164 

Boarding     School     at 

Vyara 164 

Medical 165 

Industrial 165 

Sunday-school 165 

Evangelistic 166 

Statistics    of    1913 167 

Imler,   T.   F 221 

Illinois,   Northern 

Special   Dist.   Meeting,    .    52 

Petition  Rejected 57 

Protest 67 

Individual    Views,     72 

Inglenook,   The 219,   260 

Incorporation 107 

Iowa,     Middle 101 

Jhagadla,    India,     162 

Jerusalem,     261 

Johnson,   Christian 26 

Johnson,    Stephen 261 

Kaylor,   J.  I.,    164 

Kilhefner,    David 133 

King,   Alice,    153 

Kline,   John's  Home,    26 

Kline,    John 38 

Krieghbaum,   H.    M 220 

Kurtz,    Henry,     26 

Layman,  Samuel 26 

Laymen  May  Go 264 

Leedy,    Jos 72 

Leester,    John,    214 

Lentz,   Blanche 219,    260 

Lentz,    G.   W 244 

Lichty,   D.  J 154,   166 

Lint,    C.    G 77 

Livengood,   J.  D 72 

Locate    Ministers,    101 

Long,  L  S.,   .155,  157,  163,  164 
Longenecker,   J.   H.,    244 


445 


Index 


Lyon,   Wm 187 

Mahan,  Grant,    ..219,  223,  261 

Maugans,    J.    C,    211 

Marum,    Alfred 211 

Meetinghouses   .  . 

Funds    Offered    for,     ...    91 
Rules  for  Loans  on,  107,  177 
Loans  on  Easy  Terms,   .178 
Members    of    Mission    Ex- 
empt from  Committee 

Service,     252 

Memorial  to  Kings 201 

Mentzer,    A.    W.,     214 

Metzger,  John 26,  38,  123 

Metzger,    John    E 221 

Metzger,   Minerva,    257 

Mexico,   Pa.,   Conference,    .104 

Miller,  B.  F.,    125 

Miller,  D.  L.,  95,  96,  97,  99, 
100,  101,  112,  115,  117, 
123,  140,  150,  155,  160, 
176,  178,  180,  182,  185, 
194,  196,  197,  198,  212, 
213,  214,  215,  217,  220, 
234,     244,     246,     248,     250, 

252 

Miller,  Mrs.  D.  L 140,  198 

Miller,  D.  M 87,  99,  123 

Miller,   Eliza,    153,    162 

Miller,  Ella 161,  162,  183 

Miller,    Jacob 2  6 

Miller,  J.  Kurtz,  206.  208,  209 
Miller,  Howard,  ...66,  68,  219 

Miller,    R.    H 74,    125 

Miller,    R.    "W 182 

Miller,   S.   C 219 

Miller,    Sadie   J 155 

Miller.    W.    D 209 

Miller,    W.    R.,    179,    180,    181, 

182,    239,    248 

Ministry,   a  Paid   Feared,      84 

Minnich,    Adam,    125 

Missionaries 

How   to   Secure   Them,    .205 
Requirements,    ....170,    171 

Consecration,    171 

Disabled 227 

Missionary     Reading     Cir- 
cle,     241 


Missionary  Meetings  Un- 
der Control  of  Stand- 
ing   Committee 104 

Missionary     and     Ministe- 
rial Relief  Fund,    ....228 
Missions     a    Precursor    of 

evil,     79 

Missionary  Visitor,    112 

Revived 113 

Dollar   Basis 113,    204 

Mohler,    Paul 239,    240 

Mohler,   S.   S 93,   99,    125 

Money  for  Missions  Only,  252 
Money     in     Missions     De- 
structive  79 

Moomaw,   B.   F 125 

Moomaw,   D.    C,    75 

Moore,    J.   H..   51.    72,    78,    119, 
120,     140,     172,     198,     214, 

217,    218,    223 

Muntz,    Simon 121 

Murray,   J.  C 172 

Murray,    Samuel 26 

Murray,    M.    R.,    248 

Myers,    C,     269 

Myers,    M.    R 183 

Myers,   S.   H 186,   187 

McCann,   S.   M.,    151,    152,   161. 

162,     261 

McGachey,    Eliza   J 133 

Navsari,   India,    152 

Neff,   Jas.   M 133,  241 

Neher,    J.    H 203 

Nellson,     C,     55 

Newcomer,    Edith 241 

New    Experiences 14o 

New    Field    Perplexing,    ..139 

Not    Hasty 139 

Nyce,  W.   G.,    272 

Oldham,   Ada ,. . .  211 

Oiler,   J.   F 213 

Oiler,    May 198 

Ohio,   Southern 67,   108 

Ollnger,    J.    K.,    121 

Oberholtzer   Home 80 

Offerings    at    Conference,    226 

One  Cent  per  "Week,    107 

One  Dollar  per  Year 225 

Opposition 29 


446 


Index 


Orphanaire  In  Asia  Minor,  195 

Orphanage   In   China 259 

Orphanage  in  India 151 

Orphanage       In       Switzer- 
land,     237 

Our  Young   People 219 

Pangs   of   Division,    88 

Papers  in  1879 72 

Pellet,   Adrian,    236,    237,    238, 

239,    240 

Pa.,   Eastern,    ...207,   208,   210 
Pa.,     Eastern     New    York, 

and  New   Jersey 210 

Pa.,  Middle 57,  67 

Pa.,  Western 44,   67,  70 

Pa.,    Elk    Lick    Congrega- 
tion,        70 

Pertle  Springs,   Mo.,    Con- 
ference,      112 

Pfautz,    David 26 

Pilgrim,    The 51 

Pilot,    The,    219,    242 

Pittenger,  J.  M.,   157,   161,  162 

Poulson,    Christina,     53 

Powell,  Josephine,    161 

Price,    David 123,    179 

Price,   John,    26 

Price,  J.  W 140 

Primitive    Christian,     72,     74, 

75,  76,    77,    81,    83,    84,    85 

Priser,   J.   B 133 

Prison   Endured 63,    177 

Program      at      Conference 

Missionary    Meeting,    171 
Progressive  Christian,    ...   53 

Progress    Slow 33 

Quinlan,    Jas.,    133 

Quinter,    Jas.,    38,    66,    67,    72, 

76,  80,  85,  86,  95,  100,  120 

Quinter,    Mary 155,    184 

Rairigh,   Geo.   S 206,   208 

Reading    Circle 241 

Reading,     Pa.,     Congrega- 
tion  133 

Receipts  Increased,    104 

Reichard,    Daniel 26 

Reunion  Longed  For 89 

Rlddlesberger,    S.,    95 

Eittenhouse,  A.  H., 225 


Rittenhouse,   David 26 

Root,   C.   C 121 

Rosenberger,    Eliz 242 

Rosenberger,  I.  J.,    ..213,   220 

Ross,    A.    W 157 

Rowland,   C.   P 61,   95 

Rowland,    Gertrude,    154,    184 

Royer,   B.    Mary 164 

Royer,  John 26 

Royer,  J.  G.,  36,   178,  179,  180 

Royer,  Margaret,    214 

Royer,    S.   D 125,   128 

Ryan,    Bertha.    145,    147,    152. 

184,   185 

Sanger,    S.    F.,    155,    182,    189, 

206,    218,    252 

Sayler,  D.  P.,    26,   38 

Scandinavians     in     Amer- 
ica  175 

Loss  by  Immigration,   ..175 

Colonization   Approved,    175 

Securing    Missionaries,     ,-109 

Sell,   Jas.   A 244 

Sell,  W.   B 99 

Senger,  Martha  C 133 

Series   of   Meetings 37 

Sharp,    S.    Z.,    73,    123 

Shively,    Daniel 133 

Shively,    Geo 26 

Shumaker,   Ida  C,    164 

Sisters'   Mission  Bands,    ..107 

Situation,    the    Real 36 

Snavely,    J.    Y.,    121 

Snyder,    John   R 242,    253 

Solicitors, 101 

Song  Book,  Small,    106 

South    America 263 

Spare,   Nathan 179 

Standards,       Certain       Re- 
quired,     169 

Standing  Committee, 145 

Standing     Committee     Ap- 
pointed by  Bishop,    . .    36 

Stoner,    Ephraim 146 

Stover,   W.    B.,    140,    141,    145, 
146,     147,     153,     162,     164, 

185,   241 

Strayer,    Ephraim ,. . .  209 

Strayer,   Waldo 211 


447 


Index 


Struss,  Lillian 211 

Studebaker,   Jesse 92 

Sugar      Creek      Congrega- 
tion,   Ohio,    43 

Suggestions    by    Chair,    ..263 

Summary,    1880 62 

Summary,   1894 114,  117 

Summary  for  Nine  Tears,  134 
Sweden 
John  Olsson  in  Charge,  116 

Difficult    Problems 116 

Memorial   to   King,    ....201 

Swigart,   J.   W.,    157 

Switzerland 

Why 234 

Place    of   Worship 234 

Church  for  Sale 235 

Tavel,  C 234 

Teaching    Not    Guarded,    .119 
Teeter,  L.  W.,    ..74,   155,   218 

Texiere,  Martin 211 

Title  of  Property  in  Den- 
mark,       84 

Thomas,    Silas 79 

Topee   in   India 150 

Thurman,  W.  C 119 

Tracts 

C.  Hope.    48 

Sound 120 

Bound 133 

Distributers 132,    177 

List    of 128 

Examining,     113,     125,     173 

Appendix   A 

Doctrinal 135,    173 

List  of  1894 136 

Revision 174 

Tract    Association,    121 

Traveling      Secretaries,      111, 

261,    263 

Trostle,  J.  W 87 

Trout,    L    B.,    155,    220,     222. 

223,    252 

Ulery,  J.  Edson,  206,  207.  208 

Ulery,    Julia 213 

Umstead,    John 26 

Utah,     106,    243 

Vada,  India,    161 

VanDyke^   Cassie  B., 108 


VanDyke,  Dr.  G.  H.,  181,  182 
Vaniman,  Albert  and  Alice, 

142,     145,     146,     202,    203, 

245,    246 

Vaniman,    D.,    93,    95,    96,    99, 
123,     128,     140,     141,     144, 

171,    212 

Vaniman,    Ernest,    259 

Vault,   Library 251 

Vindicator,    73,    79,    80 

Visiting   Mission  Fields,    .111 

Vyara,    India 161 

Wampler,    Fred    J 259 

Washington,  D.  C. 

How  Begun 186 

Disappointment 186 

Reconsideration 187 

Meetinghouse,     ...188,     189 

Resignation,     188 

Care    of    Eastern    Mary- 
land  190 

Waterloo    Building   In    In- 
dia  160 

Webster,     Ella      Raffen- 

berger 133 

Wenger,    Samuel 213 

Wertenbaker,    W.    H 155 

West,    Landon 77,    125 

Wetzel,    Paul,    52 

Wleand,    A.    C 248 

Williams,   J.   H.   B 114 

Wilt,   J.   W 87,   99 

Wine,    A.    F 250 

Winger,    Otho 242 

Winona  Lake,    Indiana,    ..225 

Wirt,  James 121 

Wise,   John 85 

Wolfe,   John 26 

Working    Decision 72 

World-wide 27 

Yandt,    Abraham 26 

Tereman,   O.  H.,   156,   161,   195 

Yoder,    J.    J 264 

Young   Disciple,    72,    219 

Young,    E.    S.,    ..101,    278,    290 

Zigler,  Kathryn 162 

Zollers,   Geo.  D 50 

Zook,   John,    93,   155,  252 


448 


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